Alan Lam reporting from Kuşadasi
The 54th MedCruise General Assembly is currently underway in Kuşadasi, Turkey, hosted by Global Ports Holding (GPH), the biggest specialist cruise port operator in the world. Unsurprisingly, the main focus of the conference is on the revival of Eastern Mediterranean cruise market in general, the Turkish market in particular.
As the geopolitical impact subsides and the memories of recent unfortunate events fade, cruise ships and passengers are coming back to the region in bigger numbers and at increasingly quicker paces. Most Turkish ports are experiencing rapid recoveries.
There is a very human story to be told here. This is the part of the world where human history and civilisation are measured by millennia, not by centuries. It is the home of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The connection and yearning to reconnect with the past is so strong that no geopolitical force can render it asunder. Cruise ships approaching and departing the ancient harbours of Eastern Mediterranean are symbols of this reconnection. Cruise business of this region has now a new perspective of its mission.
Not all cruise lines withdrew their ships in the aftermath of the recent events. Those who never left are now reaping the rewards and thriving.
As creating new itineraries needs time, major differences in traffics will only begin to be felt in 2021 and beyond.
Meanwhile, cruise ports and destinations in Turkey have taken the opportunity to upgrade their facilities and rethink their strategies. GPH ports are already feeling the forces of the returning tides and are rising to the challenges.
There is much excitement, euphoric anticipation, and optimism among the stakeholders. A full analytical feature of the Assembly will appear in the next issue of CruiseBusiness.com Magazine
