By
Laura Hyde |
The eighth edition of the Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum (PSTF 2025) will take place at the Mikis Theodorakis Convention Centre in Heraklion on the island of Crete, Greece, from 6-7 May 2025.
Executives from cruise lines, industry associations, destinations and maritime tourism authorities in Greece and other countries in the Eastern Mediterranean will come together to discuss the opportunities and challenges facing the industry and the region.
Decision-makers will look at strategies to explore the long-term sustainability of the region’s most sought-after destinations. Some of the confirmed speakers include Chris Theophilides, CEO of Celestyal; Theodora Riga, president of MedCruise; Gianluca Suprani, senior vice president of global port development and shore activities at MSC Cruises; Samuel Maubanc, director general of Cruise Lines International Association Europe; and Minas Papadakis, CEO of Heraklion Port Authority.
Discussions will focus on how to strike a balance between growing passenger demand and responsible tourism management. Meanwhile, the ‘small ships’ panel aims to explore how smaller vessels are reshaping the cruising experience by offering a more intimate and personalised onboard atmosphere, along with greater flexibility in itineraries when sailing the Aegean Sea and Eastern Mediterranean.
The event’s exhibition floor will provide space to network and connect with itinerary and excursion planners at both established and up-and-coming destinations.
“Over the next three years, 40 new cruise ships will be delivered, adding another 90,000 berths to global capacity,” said Theodore Vokos, managing director of Posidonia Exhibitions. “With the East Med becoming more important to the industry due to plans for increased ship deployment in the region, it is natural that all major and niche cruise lines will want to be in Crete for PSTF 2025.”
Find out more about the Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum on the dedicated website.