Three MedCruise members — Fundación Valenciaport, the Port Authority of Valencia and the Port of Motril — have taken part in an initiative developed within the framework of PortCREW – Interreg Euro-MED, a European project promoting more sustainable, innovative and better-connected cruise tourism models across Mediterranean port destinations.
On 2 July, the Cruise Tourism Product Workshop was held in Llíria, organised by the Valencia Provincial Council together with Fundación Valenciaport and the Port Authority of Valencia, with the support of Llíria City Council.
The event brought together 50 tourism and cruise sector professionals to explore new cruise tourism products and experiences in the province of Valencia. The aim is to develop authentic and sustainable experiences that are closely connected to the local territory, while diversifying the tourism offer and helping to reduce pressure on the main urban areas.
Public-private collaboration at the heart of cruise tourism development
The workshop was opened by Pedro Cuesta, Deputy for Tourism, who highlighted the importance of public-private collaboration in creating new opportunities and developing authentic tourism products tailored to cruise passengers.
During the session, Francesca Antonelli, from the Port Authority of Valencia, presented the main challenges facing the cruise sector in Valencia, while Carolina Navarro Correcher, from Fundación Valenciaport, introduced the PortCREW – Interreg Euro-MED project, which supports and funds the initiative.
Lorenzo Vera shared the experience of the Port of Motril, where a strong cruise tourism offer has been developed across the province, creating a diverse range of experiences for cruise passengers beyond the port city.
The workshop also featured contributions from destinations including Riba-roja de Túria, providing further perspectives on how local territories can play an active role in the development of new cruise tourism experiences.
Connecting cruise tourism with the local territory
The workshop forms part of a wider series of sessions bringing together public and private stakeholders from cruise destinations, including tourism administrations, ports, municipalities, companies and other key actors across the tourism sector.
Through this collaborative approach, participants are working to develop new cruise tourism products and experiences that reflect the identity of local destinations, strengthen connections with the surrounding territory and create new opportunities beyond traditional urban tourism areas.
Supporting a more sustainable Mediterranean cruise tourism model
Through PortCREW, Fundación Valenciaport and the Port Authority of Valencia are working to promote cruise destinations that are more sustainable, authentic and better connected with their territories.
By encouraging collaboration between ports, destinations and tourism stakeholders, the project aims to diversify the tourism offer, distribute cruise activity more widely across local areas and contribute to a more balanced model of cruise tourism in the Mediterranean.
Further information is available on the PortCREW project website.
