"End of recession" shouted the headline in one of Spain's newspapers this morning (Expansión, 24 October 2013). The latest set of more cheerful economic data have prompted the Spanish Central Bank to proclaim the end of recession and the beginning of recuperation for the country's economy. Against this background, the third edition of Madrid International Cruise Summit takes place on 24 and 25  October. Cruise Business correspondent Alan Lam again attends the summit.

There is now an unmistakable and tangible optimism in Spain in the believe that the Spanish cruise sector may have turned the corner. The prospect, according to most, is now much brighter. Growth will resume hereafter. The Mediterranean in general and Spain in particular will continue to be the main focus for cruise lines, as affirmed by their delegates to the Summit. ECA 2015 and geopolitical issues in Eastern Mediterranean have helped to support Spanish cruise business. The growth of source markets in Germany, France and the Far East will enormously contribute to cruise tourism in Spain.

But the post-crisis Spanish cruise market will be different in many ways. The sector needs to recognise this fact. There are new challenges emerging. All segments must work together in an ever closer cooperation to overcome obstacles.

A full analytical article will be published in the next issue of Cruise Business Review.