The fourth edition of the International Congress of Nautical and Cruise Tourism will be held from October 15 to 17 in Motril and Granada, under the slogan “Where the sea merges with innovation”.
Eight institutional representatives have endorsed the event, which aims to consolidate Andalusia, Ceuta and Melilla as benchmarks of international maritime tourism.
The fourth edition of the International Congress of Nautical and Cruise Tourism, CITCA Suncruise, has officially begun its journey with a presentation ceremony held this morning at the Port of Motril. The event, to be held on 15, 16 and 17 October in Motril and Granada, is consolidated as a strategic appointment to position Andalusia, Ceuta and Melilla in the elite of nautical and cruise tourism, under the slogan “Where the sea merges with innovation”.
The president of the Port Authority of Motril, José García Fuentes, host of the event, was in charge of describing the program planned for the three days of the congress, which will combine professional activities, business meetings and cultural experiences around nautical and cruise tourism. “Motril wants to consolidate itself as an open, innovative and connected port with its environment, and CITCA is a key tool to achieve this,” he said.
Carlos Rubio, secretary general of Suncruise Andalusia and president of the Port Authority of Malaga, underlined the association’s commitment to innovation, sustainability and joint work between ports and destinations. «Suncruise is a strategic alliance between Andalusian ports that goes far beyond logistics. We want to be a tourist, economic and environmental engine for the whole of southern Europe,“ he said, before adding: ”From Suncruise we work so that nautical and cruise tourism leaves a positive footprint in the territories, promoting the digital transformation of destinations, the deseasonalization of supply and the development of more sustainable port infrastructures. CITCA represents a meeting place where all the actors of the ecosystem can exchange ideas, build alliances and design together the future of blue tourism in Andalusia».
The mayor of Motril, Luisa García Chamorro, has highlighted the pride of the city to host the congress for the second consecutive year. “This new edition of CITCA reinforces the role of Motril as a gateway to the Mediterranean, a point of connection between cultures and a platform for quality cruise tourism,” she said.
For her part, the mayor of Granada, Marifrán Carazo, highlighted the complementarity between coast and inland and the attractiveness of Granada as the venue for part of the event. “Granada offers the ideal setting to show the world our ability to innovate from history, to offer culture, gastronomy and hospitality without renouncing the avant-garde,” she said.
Carazo also stressed that «Granada has everything to position itself as a premium tourist destination: culture, landscape, gastronomy and excellence in service. And most importantly, a city that looks to the future without renouncing its identity and culture». He added that CITCA 2025 “is a magnificent opportunity to demonstrate that we can lead quality and sustainable tourism, without falling into overcrowding and with a model that respects our heritage, especially in the year we present our candidacy for European Capital of Culture in 2031”.
From the regional side, Rafael Caballero, president of the Association of Municipalities of the Costa Tropical, stressed the need to take advantage of the congress to make visible the potential of the coast of Granada. “The Costa Tropical has in the nautical tourism a development opportunity that requires planning, investment and joint promotion,” he said.
On behalf of the Diputación de Granada, Antonio Mancilla, deputy delegate of Water, Agricultural Promotion and Environment wanted to highlight the value of blue tourism as an ally of rural development and territorial cohesion. “Nautical tourism should also be a tool to revitalize our municipalities, connecting inland and coast through sustainable and quality experiences,” he said.
On behalf of the Junta de Andalucía, the Territorial Delegate of Tourism, Culture and Sport of the Junta de Andalucía in Granada, David Rodríguez, closed the event by emphasizing the strategic role of CITCA within the tourism policies of the Andalusian Government. “CITCA Suncruise embodies the commitment of the Junta for an intelligent, sustainable and diversified tourism, which generates added value and employment in all corners of our community,” he said.
CITCA Suncruise 2025 will be developed in three days that will combine technical visits, networking activities, academic sessions and a full program of institutional and social events.
The city of Motril will host the first day, with a fam trip to the Costa Tropical and a business workshop with the participation of SMEs in the sector. Granada will take over with a day of conferences and meetings at the Barceló Congress Hotel, followed by an institutional dinner at the Carmen de los Mártires. The closing ceremony will take place on October 17, with a final speech by the authorities and a private visit to the Alhambra as the finishing touch.
With this fourth edition, CITCA Suncruise reaffirms its role as a reference forum in the field of maritime tourism and as an engine of connection between the public sector, the business community and the territories that are committed to a blue, sustainable and innovative future.
