Cruise Industry Eyes Recovery as Tangier Port Awaits Return of Ships

Even before the border closures, the sector had made headlines with the forced quarantine of the Diamond Princess, the cruise ship turned floating Covid-19 hotspot, a blow to the entire industry, according to operators. Despite this, the niche retains all its attractions, said Rkia Alaoui, president of the CRT of the Tanger-Tétouan-Al Hoceima region, to L’Économiste.

Nevertheless, the sector remains convinced that the recovery will allow activities in this niche to be relaunched, given the exemplary management of the crisis. To this end, the sector is working in collaboration with the Société de Gestion du Port de Tanger Ville, in order to promote this segment. In this regard, a promotional video with the Port as part of the #PortsTogether campaign was produced, in order to remain present in the minds of global cruise decision-makers, according to the president of the CRT.

For her, it is a question of positioning Tangier as a destination capable of welcoming cruise passengers, even with the pandemic, under the best conditions. It should also be noted that Tangier has won the organization of the prestigious World Conference of Cities & Ports, thanks to a candidacy defended by its Port which sits on the Board of Directors of the International Association of Cities & Ports. This event, which will be held in October 2021, will allow Tangier and the assets of northern Morocco to be put in the spotlight to promote this important cruise sector.