The BDI@1,107; Geopolitics still perplexed but Sea Tourism can thrive…

Splashing the cash: Norway’s biggest spenders over the last year

And that’s not all! Click the image above to go to the VV blog, where you can find the full article complete with four more infographics and downloadable high resolution images.

The Geopolitical situation gets worse and the latest results in the European Elections creates a new Europe so to speak… AND BREXIT affects everything and all involved…

Migrants still the top and most important issue with many rescued but also many lost in the Med… the good weather “creates” the perfect environment for further surge in Migrants crossings in the entire Med area. At the other side of the Atlantic at the USA – Mexican border the Trump administration will do everything to stop the movement of Migrants, even with what is left: tariffs; what’s this space..

Watch the faulty line from Gib to Afghanistan and from the Caucuses to the Horn of Africa with the four focal points North Africa, Iberian Peninsula – Catalonia,  The entire Balkans – not just West Balkans where despite “progress” with Albania (NATO member and possible EU entrant) the greater Albania prospect might shake the region upside down…. CAUTION, add the North Macedonia anecdotal situation (NATO prospects as well as EU future entrant) and see what you get given also that Turkey and Russia stir up the region); The Eastern Med and the entire Middle East…  Did I hear you say another Cyprus melee… Add the Iranian issue and see what you get… Ultra CAUTION should be observed…

The forthcoming parliamentary elections in Greece on the 7th of July 2019 will make it also a region to watch further…

The Trade War between the US and China will be further “projected”… Issues also in the China Sea… AND Japan is watching…

Let’s see also the direction India takes after the elections… What’s Midi’s mood… AND Pakistan?

Enough for tonight…

The Antipollution stand at the exhibition hall of PSTF

On another tone and note the second day of the Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum 2019 at the Domotel Conference Centre was more than a success…

With seven more sessions and respective panels plus the YES to Sea Tourism Forum the Conference and Exhibition will remain in history as one of the ever best given some special encounters on Q&A times as well as a couple of inter-panel ones!

Destinations, Itinerary Planning & Shore excursions the first of the morning two in parallel sessions was unique. The parallel workshop took place at the Pythagoras 106-7 seminar room and was titled: HEMEXPO: A dynamic entry into the Cruising of the Marine Equipment Manufacturers…

Emad Hassan, Claire Levitt, Leslie Peden and Theodore Kontes; standing Grant Holmes – moderator

After an extended coffee break the Year Round Cruising panel took place which contemplated on a 365-day approach to cruising! What an excellent moderator Grant Holmes was given the difficulties surrounding the East Med region. Panellists included Emad Hassan, an advisor from the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism; Theodore Kontes, president of the Union of Cruise Ship Owns and Associated Members ; Leslie Peden, CCO from Celestyal Cruises and Claire Levitt, deputy destination experience manager from Fred Olsen Lines.

Theodore Kontes, standing on the right delivering his slides presentation

On all counts Kontes’ slides presentation was one of his ever best – well construed, simple and very explanatory; excellent! We did put forward some points warming up the debate during Q&A time… good to see Kavala in the charts… need more infrastructure and Chios too but we all await the airport to make up the difference; it’s about time as any further delay works against this eastern Aegean Greek Islands development and well-being of its people, needless to say that tourists and Cruise operators are losing from a great destination!

After an excellent working lunch the much awaited Yachting & Marinas “The Challenges Remain” panel took place with the best challenging debate so far witnessed in a conference in Greece!

Oscar Siches introducing the panel

Oscar Siches an ISO Yacht Harbour Expert, and Marina Consultant, Member of ICOMIA from Mallorca in Spain had a difficult job to do given the inter-panel exchanges as well as those from the audience with all four panellists. We also contributed on the legal framework and procedures front…

Rosemary Pavlatou, director A1 Yacht Trade Consortium & BWA Yachting, Member of MYBA was quite explicit as did Antonis Stelliatos, president of HPYOA our good old friend – and George Vernicos, chairman of Vernicos Yachts. Some contributing points come also from Janet Xanthopolous, legal adviser, Yacht Ownership & Admin dept manager at Rosemont Yacht Services…

Maria Ntouka-Montessatou and to her right Stavros Katsikaris

The Room was …on “flames” with the debate exceeding the time allocated and the organisers urged Oscar Sishes to end the debate; strong points come from the very eloquent Maria Ntouka-Montesantou, the legal advisor of A1, and Stavros Katsikaris head of the Marina of Flisvos in Paleon Faliron and  president of the Union of Greek Marinas.

Once again we delivered a few statements from our experiences all these years in London on the things missing in promoting yachting and maritime tourism in Greece.

Danae Bezantakou

The Final panel was also more or less an event of its own; the YES to Shipping we witnessed in the past appeared with its YES to Sea Tourism Forum team and … speciality so to speak! This leading platform on the open dialogue in the Greek Shipping and Sea Tourism Industries comes at no better time – both for the event as well as for the industry given the situation people live in Greece vis-à-vis jobs and we have to warmly congratulate the Danae Bezantakou and her team of followers for the initiative, impact and results it already creates – same were more than appropriately demonstrated on stage!

After a short but to the point vigorous speech delivered by Danae Bezantakou, George Alexandratos took the podium with an excellent speech / call too calling for action from both sides of the equation; a real wake up and join in this sector of business!.

Vassiliki and Eva

Vassiliki  and Eva come on stage, two of the new followers; what a way forward!

The opening address was given by Dr. Panagiota Dionysopoulou, general manager of tourist policy at the respective Greek Ministry of Tourism…. She was followed by Dora Yiannaki, a specialist scientist from the General Secretariat of Youth in Greece.

Theodore Kontes had his day; he also delivered an interesting slides presentation with some excellent  statistics for the entire industry; BRAVO! I guess from this well construed presentation many more will follow this sector of the shipping industry.

Xenia Kourtoglou delivering her excellent and very informative slides presentation

An old friend from the past and staunch supporter of the YES to Shipping, Xenia Kourtoglou took the podium.

Ms Kourtoglou slides presentation dealt with the YES Forum Research and the FocusBari entity dealt as the official YES Forum research agency.

What do the companies ask for? What do the newcomers wish and expect!

Minas Tsamopoulos at the podium; to his right the panel comprised by Dr. Thanos Pallis, capt. Vassilis Gazikas, Aleandros Seremelis and Maria Deligianni

Well done!

As other running issues where of essence too, had to leave but heard that this panel did more than well with self-made people such as one of the speakers, Paris Dragnis, Dr. Thanos Pallis and others. Good to have there journalist Minas Tsamopoulos from Proto Thema moderating this excellent panel! Congrats to all involved. Ah! And the room was once again bursting to its sims by the dozens of youngsters attending.

Dr. Panagiota Dionysopoulou, George Alexandratos and a more than content capt. Dimitris Bezantakos

Lastly it was great witnessing the happy face of captain Dimitris Bezantakos attending the event and being more than pleased and content from his daughters success; a very touching moment; the smile in the photo we took depicts everything!

That’s all for tonight, have a nice evening and remain on guard from actions emanating from Pirates, Terrorists, Criminals and Business Hooligans whatsoever wherever you are on Planet Ocean!