The global cruise industry is undergoing an operational transformation in which the success of a port call is no longer measured solely by passenger numbers or infrastructure capacity. Harmonious integration with host cities and direct economic returns for the local economy have become strategic priorities for operators. Against this backdrop, the international Seatrade Cruise Med 2026 event, organized by specialist industry organizer Seatrade Cruise, will turn the capital of Gran Canaria into the focal point of the debate on the social sustainability of maritime tourism.
On Wednesday, September 16, Fuerteventura Hall will host the roundtable ‘More than a port: a gateway to trust and community engagement.’ The session will address governance models for transforming dockside operations into a long-term relationship based on transparency and mutual benefit.
Strategic consultancy TheTourismLab, moderated by its founder and CEO Andrea Baigorria, will lead a panel designed to establish practical guidelines for cooperation among cruise lines, port concessionaires and public authorities. The discussion will examine how port calls can generate genuine added value for nearby businesses without compromising community life.
The debate will feature executive participation from MSC Cruises, the world’s second-largest cruise operator, represented by Jon Olav Stedje, Head of Sustainability and Community Engagement. His contribution will detail the company’s operational policies for mitigating environmental impact in port and coordinating visitor flows at the most frequently visited destinations across its Atlantic and Mediterranean network.
From the perspective of destination management and technical consultancy, Anastasios Konstantaros will take part. He is CEO of BoatsAdvisor, Hub&Events and a specialist in maritime tourism development in Greece. His contribution will focus on shore-side reception models and the implementation of tools to assess residents’ perceptions of passenger traffic.
The institutional analysis of the port system will be provided by Joško Šupe, Deputy Director General of the Port of Šibenik Authority, Lučka uprava Šibenik, and a member of the board of directors of MedCruise, the Association of Mediterranean Cruise Ports. His contribution will draw on the experience of Adriatic terminals in regulating berthing, coordinating port-call schedules and creating inter-institutional alliances to prevent overcrowding in historic city centers.
The event is supported by key organizations in the passenger business. CLIA, the Cruise Lines International Association, promotes the global decarbonization and social responsibility standards guiding the panel. Local infrastructure is supported by Las Palmas Cruise Port, a subsidiary of Turkish giant Global Ports Holding, which manages the archipelago’s terminal network and is leading the modernization of berthing services at the Port of La Luz. The summit aims to consolidate a common roadmap for facilities in the mid-Atlantic and Mediterranean. The panel’s conclusions will seek to provide replicable solutions to enhance the competitiveness of port calls and protect the social license of a rapidly expanding industry.
The article Seatrade Cruise Med 2026: MSC Cruises, MedCruise and Global Ports set the sector’s future in Las Palmas was first published on canarymaritime.com.
