Taranto Hosts the Cruises & Port Cities Working Group
The port-city of Taranto hosted on 19–20 February 2026 the first in-person meeting of the Cruises & Port Cities Working Group, a joint initiative by AIVP and MedCruise dedicated to the sustainable development of cruise ports and port cities.
The event brought together around 30 professionals and experts from Italy, Spain, France, Greece, and Portugal, representing a crucial moment for international dialogue and the exchange of best practices in the Mediterranean cruise sector.
Taranto_3
Taranto_4
The meeting, hosted by the Port of Taranto (AdSPMI), aimed primarily to promote a collaborative approach between ports and cities, with particular attention to key topics such as governance, mobility, and community engagement. Dedicated workshops explored tourist flow management and cooperation strategies between port stakeholders and cruise companies, reinforcing the work already initiated during previous online meetings on Governance & Citizens Engagement and Flow Management & Mobility. The working group has counted with the support throughout the different sessions from Jon Olav Stedje, from MSC Cruises and Alessandro Vacca, from Systematica.
The program was inaugurated with an official press conference at the Ketos Center, attended by the President of the Port of Taranto, Giovanni Gugliotti, a representative of the Municipality, and the Harbormaster. During the meeting, Theodora Riga, President of MedCruise and of the Port Authority of Corfu, highlighted the importance of a collaborative approach to cruise development, emphasizing that sector management requires a shared and balanced vision, capable of harmonizing different perceptions of cruise development and supporting the relationships between port and city.
On her part, Francesca Morucci, Secretary General of AIVP, underlined the importance of collaboration between the two associations, emphasizing that the synergy between AIVP’s port-city perspective and MedCruise’s cruise industry approach is fundamental. She noted that the collaboration, launched with the publication of the Cruise Port City Compass, has already demonstrated the value of integrating different perspectives. In this second phase, she added, cooperation becomes even more crucial to address the complex challenges faced by ports, including sustainability, the balance of socioeconomic impacts, flow management, and strengthening connections with local communities.
The second day of the program took place at the National Archaeological Museum of Taranto (MArTA), featuring an Open Lab session dedicated to dialogue with local stakeholders, including the Municipality of Taranto. This moment allowed international experts and local representatives to explore strategies to enhance the sustainability of cruise destinations, identify new collaboration opportunities, and define the Group’s operational priorities for the year ahead.
The initiative also provided an important opportunity for networking and the exchange of best practices among sector professionals, while offering a chance to experience the unique context of Taranto, a city where port, historical heritage, and innovation coexist in balance.
Taranto_2
Taranto
The Cruises & Port Cities Working Group, established in 2021, promotes dialogue and cooperation between cruise ports and cities, supporting more sustainable and inclusive destination management. Through this shared initiative from MedCruise and AIVP, coordinated by Laura Cimaglia, Noemi Frascella and José Sánchez, continue to assist their members in strengthening port–city relations and promoting the sustainable development of cruise tourism, not only in the Mediterranean but globally.
The Taranto meeting concretely demonstrated how shared work between ports, cities, and local communities can translate into effective strategies for sustainable and balanced cruise development. The synergy between AIVP’s port-city perspective and MedCruise’s industry vision now represents an innovative model to address the complex challenges of ports and tourist destinations, reinforcing the role of port cities as drivers of sustainable development and innovation in the international cruise sector.
Don’t miss news, updates, and reviews from the cruise world on Cruising Journal, featuring photos, videos, and special cruise offers.