PHILIPSBURG–Port St. Maarten representatives are preparing to attend the 2019 Seatrade Europe Cruise and River Cruise Convention in Hamburg, Germany, September 11-13. They will join more than 5,000 stakeholders from the cruise industry.
Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications (TEATT) Minister Stuart Johnson, who intends to solidify cruise industry partnerships and attract new business, will be leading the delegation.
Seatrade Europe is an international cruise and river cruise fair held every two years in Hamburg, which is the ideal location for the fair due to its long history as a port city and as the largest cruise port in Germany.
Johnson said on Sunday that he looks forward to reconnecting with key cruise industry stakeholders during his visit to Germany this week.
“Our goal continues to be the promotion of St. Maarten as the preferred destination in the Caribbean region for cruise visits. We will use the opportunity to learn innovations in the industry and capitalise on the opportunity to showcase our progress since September 2017.
“I fully intend on making sure our country reaps any opportunity possible during the Cruise and River Cruise Convention. As we continue to work tirelessly to achieve the goal of a fully-recovered and thriving economy, we will be thoughtful in our actions ensuring that we redevelop sustainably,” he said.
“Exhibitors include shipyards, ship chandlers, food and beverage suppliers, classification societies, cruise ports and shipbrokers, among others. From small-scale on-board hospitals to huge restaurant kitchens, from waste disposal to entertainment equipment, operations on board a cruise ship are highly complex, requiring perfect logistics. At the conference held in parallel with the exhibition, high-level experts will discuss current industry topics,” Seatrade Europe said about the upcoming event.
“The port continues to work with our cruise partners throughout the year and we are looking forward to attending this leading trade event. Seatrade Europe is an opportunity to have discussions with cruise line executives and network with European cruise lines,” Port St. Maarten management said on Sunday.
Germany welcomed 2.19 million cruise passengers in 2018 and is the third largest global source market for passengers, according to Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA).
The Port of Hamburg is a leading centre for cruise shipping, with 11 per cent more passengers and eight per cent more ship calls in 2018 than previous years, based on the figures of cruise ship sector representative Hamburg Cruise Net.
Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/90711-port-st-maarten-delegation-prepares-to-travel-to-seatrade-europe-2019
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