The eighth Seatrade Med Cruise Convention closes in Cannes, having welcomed some 3000 participants through its doors over two and a half days of conference, exhibition, Cruise Agent Day by Top Cruise and social events.

Delegates in both the Itinerary Expansion and Cruise Demand session on Wednesday afternoon cheered when it was announced that the convention would return to France in 2012. The next Seatrade Med will take place in Marseille in October 2012, hosted by the Marseille Provence Cruise Club.

Greek Deputy Minister addressed gathered cruise professionals
Mr. George Nikitiades, Greek Deputy Minister for Culture & Tourism, visited the convention on Wednesday and addressed conference delegates during the afternoon sessions. He explained how Greece is recuperating from a difficult two years and went on to detail the action plan being implemented by the political leadership of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Mr. Nikitiades also provided insight into the future plans of the Government for tourism and cruise development. He said the government’s move to lift of restrictions on cabotage last May was part of a wider effort “to make up lost ground,” adding that the details of the package would likely be finalised this week. The Deputy Minister returned to tour the exhibition this morning, meeting both Greek and international exhibitors.

Food & beverage suppliers tipped on supplying the industry
The Dining at Sea Workshop, a food and beverage hosted buyer event held on the second day of Seatrade Med, saw 14 companies eager to break into the cruise market showcase products ranging from wine and champagne to canapés and cress. Following a lively “how to” conference session on the supply process and the dining revolution taking place at sea, cruise line buyers met one-on-one with participants to sample products and discuss possibilities.

Seatrade Med 2010 was organised in association with the French Riviera Cruise Club, who also arranged post-event familiarisation trips to showcase the full potential of the Côte d’Azur as a cruise destination.

Principal sponsors are the City of Nice, Conseil Général Alpes-Maritimes, Palais des Festivals et des Congrès, Région Provence Alpes Côte D’Azur and Riviera Ports Authority. Other main sponsors of the event are Antibes Port Vauban, Atout France, Club Croisière Corsica, Fidelio Cruise Software GmbH, Hepburn Bio Care, Marseille Provence Cruise Club, MedCruise, MSC Cruises, STX Europe, Syndicat des Hôteliers de Cannes et Environs, Var Provence Cruise Club (VPCC) and Villefranche sur Mer.

Seatrade Med is a UBM event organised in association with Seatrade.