Ports & destinations

Over €2m invested in revamping the outdoor area at Valletta Waterfront

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations

Published: 09 July 2020 09 July 2020

The months during which Valletta Waterfront was devoid of any business due to COVID-19 served as a time for Valletta Cruise Port to further invest in projects with the aim of further enhancing the appearance of this iconic Maltese destination.

Of note is the inauguration of a €2m investment in bespoke canopy structures respecting the historic fabric of the Valletta Waterfront promenade with its nineteen historical 270-year-old warehouses, built by Grand Master Pinto at the height of Malta’s baroque period where the Knights of St John and European merchants used to unload their wares.

Minister Farrugia Portelli accompanied by the Chief Executive Officer of the Malta Tourism Authority Johann Buttigieg, visited the businesses along the Valletta Waterfront which like other outlets have started operating again in the last weeks with new systems and protocols in place. The Minister praised the way in which the management of the destination has turned a period of downtime into one which further strengthens the same business, whilst further improving the tourism product.

“The determination shown in the situation created by COVID-19 has prompted everyone involved to take up this challenge. A determination which is not new in nature as regards the Valletta Waterfront: suffice to say that since the location passed into the hands of Valletta Cruise Port in 2002, around € 30 million has been invested so that today the destination, together with the fantastic appearance of the Grand Harbour, offers a welcoming first impression to the thousands of tourists who visit us on cruise ships. This €2 million investment will surely have an impact on tourists as soon as they arrive here and find this new look. We hope that we will welcome cruise ship visits again during August,” commented Minister Farrugia Portelli.

The canopy project enhances the atmosphere and comfort of the outdoor areas of this iconic destination. The new structures present an interplay between old and new, between function and context, with positive feedback about the simple lines and lightness that the new canopies afford in the venue’s historical setting, whilst being practical for the everyday activities of a multipurpose destination.

Stephen Xuereb, CEO of Valletta Cruise Port and COO of Global Ports Holding, commented, “Over the last years, together with our projects team, our architects and our catering tenants, we have worked on developing a solution which addresses the practical needs of an outdoor destination, whilst respecting the historic and aesthetic values of our destination. Our focus remains to deliver a quality experience for all our patrons.”

2019 was a record year for the local cruise industry with 900,000 passenger movements and a growth of 27% over the previous year. The cruise industry has been hard-hit by COVID-19 but Valletta Cruise Port is expecting cruise calls starting in the next weeks.

New Managing Director for Cruise Gate Hamburg GmbH

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations

Published: 03 June 2020 03 June 2020

Cruise Gate Hamburg GmbH (CGH) will be seeing a change in leadership at the top level. From July 1st, 2020, Simone Maraschi (45) will complement the management of CGH to succeed Sacha Rougier, who is moving abroad at the end of June for personal reasons.

Simone Maraschi has outstanding expertise in the international cruise business. He currently heads the Cruise Department for all German and Polish ports at Sartori and Berger, integrated service providers for all sectors in the maritime industry, and is in close contact with cruise lines and service providers from all areas of cruising. Previously, Simone Maraschi was responsible for marketing and sales within the DACH region at the Italian Ferry Company Grandi Navi Veloci/Grimaldi. "I am convinced that tourism and the cruise industry will emerge from the current situation stronger than before," says Simone Maraschi. "I am optimistic about the future and I look forward to my new duties and close co-operation with the cruise lines, the city and the highly committed team of CGH.”

Sacha Rougier took over the Management of CGH as Managing Director in February 2015. She was able to achieve continuous success in the development of Hamburg as a cruise destination including growth figures for calls and passengers well above the European average. Rougier made a significant contribution to positioning Hamburg internationally as a top cruise destination as well as in promoting Hamburg's cruise expertise in the areas of sustainability, infrastructure and terminal operations on an international level.

"Over the last few years, Sacha Rougier has succeeded in establishing an efficient and sustainable overall structure for the cruise destination Hamburg, which regularly serves as a benchmark for other ports. We express our thanks to her for her tireless commitment," says Jens Meier. Rougier is leaving the CGH at her own request and will move abroad. "This was certainly not an easy decision to make," says Sacha Rougier. "I have a great team at CGH, with whom I envisaged and achieved a great amount in the last few years."

Málaga Cruise Port accredited as safe infrastructure preventing Covid-19 at the international level

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations

Published: 07 July 2020 07 July 2020

Málaga Cruise Port has obtained the 'Safe Travels' Stamp, as safe infrastructures preventing COVID-19, granted by the World Travel & Tourism Council, the leading global association in the sector.

Although cruise traffic has been one of the most affected during the health crisis, Malaga Cruise Port has worked in collaboration with the Malaga Port Authority to implement the sanitary measures that guarantee the safety of ships, crew and passengers. In this way, Málaga port has become, along with Barcelona, ​​pioneering ports in the world in obtaining this international recognition.

This distinction will position Malaga very positively by regaining the confidence of cruise lines when operations of cruise ships resume in the coming future.

The Chairman of Málaga Cruise Port, Emre Sayin declares that “we have been working hard to identify and implement new health safety measures in all our ports across the world. As the world’s largest cruise port operator, our global reach and experience helps us determine the safest and most efficient protocols working together with Port Authorities. Naturally, we were delighted to hear that both Barcelona and Malaga have been one of the first ports to obtain the 'Safe Travels' World Travel Tourism Council stamp. As we implement these measures, we look forward to the day we will be welcoming cruise guests into our terminals once again."

On the other hand, the President of the Port Authority, Carlos Rubio, highlights “the joint effort of the terminal, which is part of our Port Community, to protect the safety and trust of shipping companies, to take the initiative in the face of the possible resumption of cruise tourism, which requires the controls established by the competent authorities and which we will be especially attentive to."

Málaga Cruise Port has also obtained the 'Responsible Tourism' quality stamp, granted by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism of the Government of Spain, which recognizes the application of the guidelines and recommendations contained in the measurement guides for the contagion reduction approved by the Ministry of Health. This includes service specifications, sanitation and disinfection, maintenance and risk management for different subsectors of the tourism market.

This certification, which must be renewed every year, recognizes the responsibility and the effort of the company to create a safe environment to generate trust and security for companies related to the tourism sector and their clients.

Yucatan maintains strong relationship with cruise industry in North America and Caribbean

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: Ports & Destinations Ports & Destinations

Published: 27 May 2020 27 May 2020

As part of its strategy amid the COVID-19 crisis for attracting more tourists to Yucatán State and ensuring the permanence of cruise line itineraries that call there, Michelle Fridman, the state’s tourism minister, says Yucatán’s government has connected with cruise companies, port authorities and tour operators in North America and the Caribbean through an informative newsletter detailing the destination's support for the cruise industry.

To that end, the debut Yucatán Cruise Newsletter aims to maintain promotion and interest in the Port of Progreso, the state’s main port of call, as a leisure cruise destination. The newsletter reports activities, statistics and projections related to the cruise industry in Yucatan.

From 2015 to 2019, Progreso increased its reception of cruise ships with the arrival of 30 additional vessels, representing growth of 47.8% in the volume of annual passengers received. Passenger numbers rose to 470,418 in 2019, compared to 318,234 in 2015, an increase of 152,184 registered passengers, which places Progreso sixth among ports with the highest reception of cruise passengers in Mexico.

The State of Yucatán has extended its support to the cruise industry during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a humanitarian response, the Port of Progreso welcomed the Gulden Leeuw school ship, allowing 50 crew members to disembark and return to their homes. As cruise ports closed globally, Progreso showed solidarity by allowing 48 British passengers to disembark Marella Cruises’ Marella Explorer 2 ship on March 31. The Mexican Navy oversaw the transfer using maximum health-security maneuvers, directing passengers to Mérida International Airport and sending them home on charter flights.

Progreso continues with its port improvement plan and other urban projects. 53.4 million Mexican pesos (about U.S. $2.4 million) have been invested in the first part of the urban improvements in Progresso’s tourist area to provide passengers with areas for fun and recreation while visiting the state. Despite the COVID-19 outbreak, the “Puerta Progreso” project continues and construction work is expected to resume, with completion later this year of exhibition areas, a restaurant and a beach club. All these improvements, along with the new International Malecon, confirm the Port of Progreso as one of the best destinations for attracting more tourists to the State.

As part of its commitment to the cruise industry, the Yucatán Tourism Board maintains its membership in the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) and continues to participate in its events, such as the first FCCA PAMAC session in Jamaica and Puerto Rico in 2020 and the Seatrade Cruise Global 2021.

Significant efforts to strengthen the global industry have also been undertaken by the private sector, including the “Destination Together” platform, whereby tour operators compare data and talk and interact to be ready when cruises return to Caribbean destinations.

In addition, tour operators and local private companies continue to strengthen other tourist attractions throughout Yucatán State, offering different experiences such as archaeological, nature and colonial jewelry micro-destinations near Progreso, to ensure that overseas visitors know more of what the state has to offer.