MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

First South America Seatrade cruise convention in Sao Paulo May 30/31

Cruise vessels anchored in Uruguay’s main resort Punta del Este

For the first time ever South America will be hosting the cruise industry major event, the Seatrade Cruise Convention organized by the Seatrade Group and Abremar, the Brazilian Association of maritime cruises. The event is scheduled for May 30 and 31 in Sao Paulo and CEO from some of the leading cruise companies have already confirmed their attendance.

“The South America cruise source market is one of the fastest new growth regions. Not only do they offer some of the most exotic cruise destinations in the world, but the economic growth in many South American countries is fuelling optimism for sustained cruise market growth across the continent” according to the sponsors.

“In order to develop the potential of this alluring and high growth market, the South America Cruise Convention will bring cruise lines together with the destinations and suppliers to explore the considerable possibilities” adds the official presentation.

Adam Goldstein (Royal Caribbean), Gianni Onorato (Costa Cruzeiros), Pierfrancesco Vago (MSC Cruzeiros), and Alfredo Serrano (Ibero Cruzeiros), among others will give the discussions special significance and anticipate an in depth review of the South American market and its possibilities.

“For some time we wanted to promote an event of this magnitude which is part of our efforts to consolidate and expand maritime tourism in Brazil”, said Abremar president Ricardo Amaral who also anticipated the celebration of a Cruise Day to coincide with the event.

At the opening of the event Abremar will be making public the results of a poll by the prestigious Getulio Vargas Foundation which will reveal the impact of the cruise industry for different sectors of the Brazilian economy.

Seatrade organizes its annual convention in Miami and other regional events in the North of Europe, Mediterranean, Far East, Dubai and Durban, South Africa. The conventions bring together not only port authorities but also tourism boards, maritime agencies, tour operators and other companies involved in the cruise industry.

According to the program on the first day a panel comprising senior representatives of the leading players in the South American cruise sector Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Uruguay will be discussing the challenges and opportunities that the region represents for the cruise industry and specifically: the positive economic impact of cruise tourism in the region now, and in the future; factors that will influence the lines in decisions on South American deployments; size of the regional source market and how best to address it and challenges of operating in the region.

A challenges panel with cruise line executives and representatives from the region, including private service suppliers, private and public terminal operators, government agencies and port authorities will address how to most effectively issues as the regulatory environment; visa and immigration issues; work permits and manning; infrastructure and terminal facilities and port taxes and operating costs in port.

On day two cruise line executives and port destination representatives will address how to best take advantage of the potential for itinerary development in South America; new ports and destinations; how to assemble the ideal shorex programme; supplying the cruise industry in South America; how the ports and destinations of the region can most effectively work together to promote cruising and how other regions have achieved it.

This will be followed by a session on identifying the markets for cruising in the region; South American sources: the market opportunities across the region and the variations between countries; External sources: North America and Europe and how they will be most effectively addressed; the global market; seasonality: what is the potential for extending the season for South American cruising and the impact of major events on cruise development such as the football World Cup and Olympics to be hosted by Brazil in 2014 and 2016.