A few days before its start, the International Congress on Nautical Tourism and Cruises (CITCA Suncruise 2025) has unveiled the complete agenda for its upcoming edition, which will be held from October 15 to 17 in Motril and Granada. The meeting will bring together representatives from shipping companies, ports, institutions, and technology companies around three main pillars: sustainability, innovation, and the transformation of the tourist experience.
The block "Sustainability with a View to the Sea" will open the sessions with two panels: "Sea and Blue Destinations" and "The Sea and the Blue Transition." These spaces will address issues such as the quality of destinations, environmental conservation, decarbonization, and the incorporation of alternative energies. The panel on the blue transition will be moderated by journalist Ángeles Vargas (HOSTELTUR) and will feature Fernando Pacheco, general director of MSC Cruises in Spain, and Carlos Giner, commercial director of Moeve, who will discuss aspects such as the role of alternative fuels, port electrification, and new European regulatory frameworks. Additionally, Manuel Álvarez Fernández from the Chamber of Commerce of Cádiz, and Ignacio Álvarez-Ossorio from the Public Ports Agency of Andalusia, will analyze the territorial and economic dimension of blue destinations.
The event will turn Andalusia into a European laboratory for blue tourism, with presentations on alternative fuels, port electrification, digital innovation, and best sustainability practices.
Innovation will have a prominent place in the block "Innovating to Navigate Better." Startups in the sector will showcase projects aimed at redefining operations management and traveler experience. GuideMe will present a data intelligence platform capable of redistributing tourist flows and customizing itineraries in real-time, avoiding congestion at cruise destinations. Rewoox, for its part, will unveil its immersive training solutions using virtual and augmented reality, aimed at enhancing training in maintenance and onboard operations.
The third block, "Navigation that Transforms," will focus on personalizing the cruise experience. The panel "The Sea in Our Lives," moderated by Esther Molina, manager of Suncruise, will include success stories from the industry and testimonials from professionals like Giorgio Costa, Regional Sales Manager Europe at Crystal Cruises. An intergenerational conversation will also take place, addressing the expectations of young Generation Z cruisers versus those of senior travelers, featuring Fabián Gil, CEO of Decruceros.es.
The program will kick off on October 15 in Motril with a fam trip and a business workshop that will connect local offerings with shipping companies and international operators. The plenary sessions, thematic panels, and networking spaces will take place starting October 16 in Granada, in a hybrid format of debate and professional meeting.
For Gerardo Landaluce, president of Suncruise, the congress is a tool to accelerate the implementation of ESG criteria and reinforce the role of ports as economic and sustainability engines. José García Fuentes, president of the Port Authority of Motril, has emphasized that the celebration in Motril and Granada offers an ideal framework for connecting business, territory, and talent around blue tourism.
Registrations remain open on the official CITCA Suncruise 2025 website, with various access modalities, from general passes to VIP options, as well as sponsorship packages and exhibition spaces. The congress seeks to establish itself as an international reference forum in nautical and cruise tourism and as a platform to position Andalusia, Ceuta, and Melilla as blue destinations in the Mediterranean.