Cruise
terminal operations, challenges and opportunities for supplying the
cruise industry, emerging ports and itinerarydevelopment, shore
excursions, a new river cruising project and passenger
sourcing trends were all topics at the Seatrade South America
Cruise Convention in
Buenos Aires.
The
two-day event, held at the Terminal de Cruceros Quinquela Martin
Buenos Aires, wrapped on Tuesday with a full conference program,
exhibition and Cruise Day for travel agents.
“South
America represents a fantastic destination and itinerary prospect.
It has many established itineraries but
a great deal more can be done. This week has seen fruitful discussion
and a productive two days in Buenos Aires” comments Chris Hayman,
Seatrade chairman.
The
Cruise Day, co-organized by Seatrade and Noticias de Cruceros, drew
more than 200 agents to hear presentations from a wide range of
speakers and lines including ABREMAR (the Brazilian Cruise
Association), MSC
Cruises, Costa, Pullmantur, Iberocruceros,
Royal Caribbean,
Norwegian Cruise
Line, Princess, Cunard, Hurtigruten and Silversea
Cruises.
As
successful as it has been so far, cruising in South America is only
in its infancy, according to Adam Goldstein, president and ceo of
Royal Caribbean International, who was among the
high-powered speakers at the opening session. ‘We are at the very,
very beginning of this game,’ he said. ‘If this were a football
game, we’re in the first five or 10 minutes of play.’
Seatrade
South America delegates heard about a diverse range of issues from
across the region in presentations and panels by cruise
line leaders; top port, tourism and transport officials; and
suppliers and experts in areas from shore excursions to
shipbuilding to supply chain.
Meaty
discussions surrounded the vast port investments that will support
Brazil’s hosting of
the World Cup in 2014 and the Summer Olympics in 2016, and the new
passenger terminal planned for Valparaíso, Chile, which
beginsconstruction in
2013. It emerged that Uruguay is considering a terminal facility in
Montevideo to support embarkations for its growing domestic cruise
market.
Also
presented were a project to develop river cruising on the Paraná
River between Buenos Aires and Iguazu Falls, and the need to develop
new ports in southern Brazil and itineraries along the
continent’s Pacific coast. Delegates heard about Ecuador’s
diversification of its offerings and its focus on quality tourism and
how Colombia, with its thriving Caribbean cruise business,
now hopes to develop Pacific routes.
The
popularity of cruising among Brazilians, Argentines and Uruguayans is
fueling the push to create fresh itinerariesto satisfy repeat
customers, delegates said, while also noting the emerging cruise
markets in other countries across the region. With options to cruise
visa-free thanks to interporting operations in Colombia and Panama,
as well as from homeports in Argentina and Brazil, a year-round
business is developing.
Costs
and infrastructure issues that challenge further growth were key
points that emerged during Seatrade South America, along with the
need for greater regional cooperation and calls for a broad-based
association focused on the cruise industry.
The
2013 Seatrade South America will be hosted by Chile in mid-May.