More than 40 representatives from tourist destinations and companies participate in a training day as part of the European PortCrew project.
The event was supported by the Provincial Council of Valencia and in collaboration with MSC Cruises, which facilitated a technical visit aboard the MSC Orchestra ship.
Fundación Valenciaport, with the support of the Provincial Council of Valencia, held a specialized Training Workshop on 28 February focused on cruise tourism product development. The event was aimed at destinations across the province and tourism service companies interested in working with this strategic segment.
The initiative is part of the European PortCrew project, whose objective is to continue advancing the sustainability strategy of the cruise sector promoted by Valenciaport.
In the case of Valencia, the project proposes the development of new eco-sustainable routes specifically designed for emerging groups or those with particular needs, such as people with disabilities, families with young children, millennials, or Generation Z. These new proposals aim to diversify the province’s tourism offer, encourage the distribution of visitors across a wider territory, and relieve pressure on the most frequented areas, thereby contributing to the social and economic sustainability of cruise tourism.
Technical training and public-private collaboration
This regional workshop, focused on the technical training of local stakeholders, had the following main objectives:
- To design and adapt tourism products and experiences suitable for the cruise market.
- To understand the operational, logistical, and commercial requirements specific to cruise tourism.
- To promote the territorial diversification of excursions, highlighting inland and coastal resources beyond the city of Valencia.
- To foster public-private collaboration among destinations, companies, and entities forming part of the cruise value chain.
The workshop, held at the Fundación Valenciaport’s facilities, brought together around 40 representatives from destinations and tourism companies across the province.
Representing the Provincial Council of Valencia were Vice President María del Remedio Mazzolari and the Provincial Deputy for Tourism, Pedro Antonio Cuesta, demonstrating institutional support for this strategic initiative for the territory.
Collaboration from the international cruise sector
The event also featured the collaboration of MSC Cruises, which organized a technical visit on board the MSC Orchestra, allowing participants to gain first-hand insight into cruise call operations.
Speakers included Cristina Mesquida, Shore Excursions and Product Development Manager at MSC Cruises, and José Sennacheribbo, Shoreside Operations Manager at Noatum Maritime, both with extensive experience in tour operations and destination excursion management.
Technical support and future commercialization
As a follow-up to the workshop, all stakeholders interested in developing new tourism experiences tailored to the cruise market will receive guidance from the PortCrew technical team. Bilateral working sessions will be organized to support the design and adaptation of products that meet the project’s requirements.
Proposals that meet the established criteria will have the opportunity to be presented during a fam trip organized within the framework of PortCrew, as a preliminary step toward international commercialization.
With this initiative, Fundación Valenciaport reaffirms its commitment to a more sustainable, diversified cruise tourism model that generates value for the entire provincial territory.
