The Cruise Atlantic Islands (CAI) Conference 2024, which will take place on 26, 27 and 28 September in Funchal, will be an important moment of joint affirmation for the recently formalized International Association of Ports of the Macaronesian Islands.
“As a collective brand, CAI is already 30 years old and this conference aims to mark that anniversary and at the same time think about our joint future, at a time when we have taken an important step in the formalization and constitution of CAI, with headquarters in the Canary Islands”, explains Paula Cabaço, president of Ports of Madeira (APRAM, SA), who is promoting the meeting that will bring together close to 80 international experts in Funchal.
CAI was founded in 1994 as a joint effort between the ports of Madeira and the Canary Islands, growing in 2006 with the entry of Cape Verde and, in 2023, with the integration of the Azores. In an increasingly competitive and global cruise industry, CAI represents a market of 3.3 million tourists, presenting itself to the sector as a differentiated product, based on the unique and complementary identities of the Atlantic islands of Macaronesia. As a collective brand, CAI is a must-see at the industry’s main events, always with a joint strategy. Now, with the establishment of an association, formalized at the beginning of August, new horizons open up.
“There is a set of possibilities that we can now explore and that will allow us to face the new challenges that the sector presents in an even more robust and capable way”, says Paula Cabaço, pointing out the dialogue with European institutions and the strengthening of CAI’s positioning in the global cruise tourism industry, as added value of the association that gave legal form to CAI.
The Conference, which will take place in the Municipal Assembly Hall of Funchal, the only portuguese Municipality that is a member of CLIA, will bring together members of CAI – Madeira, Canary Islands, Cape Verde and Azores –, as well as guests, operators, companies, agents of the sector, government officials, shorex, national and international press.
An opportunity to pay homage to the past, through a conversation with the founders of CAI, and essentially to launch the future. “We have great challenges ahead, such as the decarbonization of ports, the energy transition, digitalization and sustainability”, lists the president of the board of directors of APRAM, highlighting the projects that the Ports of Madeira are already involved in in terms of energy efficiency and the implementation of Onshore Power Supply (OPS) that will allow docked ships to turn off their engines and connect to the electricity grid on land, thus reducing the gas emission.
This work cannot be carried out in isolation. “The ports of Macaronesia and the members of the CAI have made a commitment to the environment and sustainability, and we in Tenerife are committed to making our facilities more efficient from an energy and environmental point of view, and of course, also economically,” stresses the president of the Ports of Tenerife, Pedro López de Vergara, adding: “We want to work on green corridors between our islands that will allow us to decarbonise maritime routes, in this case cruise routes, thus complying with the regulations on this matter, but also contributing to the sustainability of our archipelagos.”
A desire shared by Beatriz Calzada Ojeda, president of the Port Authority of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. “The CAI encourages the exchange of good practices and innovative solutions among its members, which strengthens the industry’s resilience in the face of global challenges,” says Ojeda, highlighting the association’s role in attracting major cruise lines. “It plays a key role in the promotion and development of cruise tourism in this region, and by acting as a consortium that brings together several Macaronesian destinations, it facilitates cooperation between islands and promotes joint marketing strategies that position them in the international market.”
Ireneu Camacho, chairman of the board of directors of the Ports of Cape Verde, stresses the importance of CAI’s dynamic role in taking advantage of the opportunities created by the cruise industry. “The geostrategic position of the Macaronesian islands is undoubtedly our differentiator and it is from there that we must begin to envision the future,” says Ireneu Camacho, adding that the synergies being created through CAI allow partners to complement each other as a tourism product. “It gives us the opportunity to compete for emerging tourism niches, blurring the concepts of center and periphery.”
The Ports of the Azores see this first CAI Conference as a reflection of the “commitment” of all members to discuss the “challenges and opportunities” that the sector presents, and the “CAI’s own competitiveness” in the global cruise market. “It is an opportunity to strengthen ties with other port authorities and explore new partnerships”, says the Azorean port authority, stressing that the “exchange of experiences and collaboration between the islands of Macaronesia are fundamental” for the sustainable and integrated growth of the sector.
The CAI Conference 2024 kicks off on the morning of September 26th with an environmental event at Funchal Ecological Park and a Welcome Cocktail to close the day. On September 27th, the proceedings will take place at the Funchal Municipal Assembly Hall, and the following day it will close with a FAM Trip to the North of the island for guests and the press.
Sigue las noticias de cruceros en Cruisesnews.es
