Adam Ceserano, president of the FCCA, highlighted the consolidation achieved by the Dominican Republic as a cruise destination with its excellent port facilities, its stellar destination attributes and its tourism vision.
SANTO DOMINGO.-Five hundred representatives from 40 countries, 14 shipping companies from the 23 members that make up the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA), and more than 60 cruise executives, including presidents, CEOs and platinum members, are attending the 28th edition of the conference that will focus its activities on analyzing the challenges and the future of the industry's operations in the new post-pandemic normal.
The President of the Republic, Luis Abinader, and the Minister of Tourism, David Collado, officially launched the event, which is being held at the Jaragua Hotel in Santo Domingo until tomorrow, October 14, 2022.
The cruise event, held for the second time in the country as a Platinum member of the FCCA, is another great opportunity to continue strengthening the Dominican Republic's leadership in the industry, and the promising future that will come with the construction of new seaports in Samaná and Cabo Rojo, Pedernales, says a statement from the Ministry of Tourism (Mitur).
Minister Collado highlighted the importance of this "cruise summit" for strengthening this tourism segment in the country, which has been registering sustained growth.
“This FCCA meeting in our country will surely mark a turning point for the cruise industry in the Dominican Republic, especially with the arrival of more tourists by sea,” he said.
He stated that more and more cruise ship passengers are arriving in the Dominican Republic and pointed out the economic impact their presence has on the various destinations.
Adam Ceserano, president of the FCCA, highlighted the consolidation achieved by the Dominican Republic as a cruise destination with its excellent port facilities, its stellar destination attributes and its tourism vision.
In addition to the presence of representatives from the main cruise lines, the tourism ministers of Honduras, Jamaica, Saint Lucia; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; Saint Maarten and Saint Kitts & Nevis are attending the conclave.
Likewise, the tourism ministers of Barbados, Cayman Islands, the Economic Development ministers of Curaçao and Grenada, as well as the Secretary of Tourism of Sinaloa, Mexico, and other government authorities from the insular Caribbean.
From the Dominican Republic, in addition to Minister Collado, attendees include the general directors of Customs, Dominican Port Authority, Migration, Dominican Navy, and directors of tourist ports such as Romana Port, Sans Souci, Amber Cove, and Taíno Bay, among others.
Agenda
Following yesterday's official opening ceremony, the first panel discussion took place, in which cruise companies and CEOs analyzed how their operations overcame the Covid-19 crisis due to collaboration with destinations and what the new normal will be like.
Today, Thursday the 13th, executives from shore excursions, insurance providers, and training operators will come together to assess how tours have changed and what that means for tourist destinations.
Meanwhile, in the panel “Operating in a Post-Pandemic World,” FCCA Operations Committee executives will detail operations in the “new normal” post-pandemic.
The discussions will present evolving protocols, updates from the Cruise Tourism of the Americas working group, achievements in the current situation, and paths forward for destinations.
During the three days, private meetings will be held between cruise line executives, panels, and meetings between industry players.
In addition, there will be a permanent space (Marketplace) for exhibitions of artisanal and gastronomic products.
