170 From port association to industry voice In its 30th anniversary year, Theodora Riga tells Rebecca Gibson how the MedCruise association has evolved into a strategic platform for advancing collaboration, sustainability and shaping the future of cruising in the Mediterranean and its adjoining seas When MedCruise was founded in 1996, its primary mission was to promote the Mediterranean and its adjoining seas as a leading cruise destination and create a platform through which ports could collaborate rather than compete. Thirty years later, that core mission remains unchanged. However, the scope and complexity of the association’s work have expanded significantly. “Today, MedCruise represents more than ports; it represents destinations, regions and a wider ecosystem of stakeholders working together to ensure the sustainable development of cruise tourism,” says Theodora Riga, the president of Corfu Port Authority who began her four-year term as MedCruise president in 2024. “The industry has changed dramatically over the past three decades. Alongside this, MedCruise has evolved FEATURE: MEDCRUISE AT 30 MedCruise organises business-to-business meetings between port and cruise lines
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