SANTO DOMINGO. The Dominican Republic, which has received more than 800,000 cruise ship visitors from January to September of this year, will be the focus of attention for that industry this week, with the staging of the 28th edition of the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) conference, which the country will host.
The event will take place at the Renaissance Santo Domingo Jaragua Hotel & Casino, where private meetings with cruise lines, industry discussion panels, and a "Marketplace" exhibition will be held, from tomorrow, Tuesday, until Friday, October 14.
Tourism Minister David Collado highlighted the importance for the country of having secured the hosting of this "cruise summit" and that this achievement is part of its effort to strengthen this growing tourism segment.
"With this FCCA meeting, which will take place from tomorrow, Tuesday, until Friday, the eyes of the global cruise industry will be on our country, and its impact on continued growth will be impressive," said Collado, who will lead the FCCA's annual conference.
Five hundred personalities from 40 countries have confirmed their participation in the event, and according to the Ministry of Tourism (Mitur), it will bring together the main businesspeople in the cruise sector and offer the country the possibility of finalizing negotiations for new cruise lines to come to the country and for existing ones to increase their arrival in Dominican waters.
Colla explained that the Dominican Republic has achieved a significant position in cruise tourism, highlighting that in the period January-September of this year the country received 800,000 visitors by sea, including cruise passengers and crew members
About the FCCA
The FCCA is a non-profit trade organization comprised of 23 member cruise lines that operate nearly 200 vessels in the waters of Florida, the Caribbean, and Latin America. It was created in 1972 with the goal of providing a forum for discussion on tourism development, ports, safety, security, and other cruise industry issues.
By fostering an understanding of the cruise industry and its operational practices, the FCCA seeks to build cooperative relationships with its partner destinations and develop productive bilateral partnerships with all sectors. The FCCA works with governments, ports, and all public and private sector representatives to maximize spending by cruise passengers, cruise lines, and employees, as well as to enhance the destination experience and increase the number of returning cruise passengers who stay overnight.
