Minister for Equality, Employment, Culture and Tourism, the Hon. Christian Santos GMD MP, attended the Seatrade Cruise Global 2026 in Miami, accompanied by the Gibraltar Tourist Board’s (GTB) Senior Executive Officer, Audisa Rodriguez.

Seatrade Cruise Global is the cruise industry’s largest and most influential annual gathering, bringing together cruise lines, destinations and key stakeholders from across the globe. The event provides an important platform for engagement with senior decision-makers, including itinerary planners from the world’s leading cruise brands.

During the convention, the Minister and the GTB’s SEO, held meetings with cruise line executives and industry stakeholders, promoting Gibraltar as a strategic port of call and reinforcing its position as a high-quality destination within the Mediterranean. These engagements form part of the Gibraltar Tourist Board’s ongoing efforts to strengthen relationships and secure future cruise business.

The delegation also had the opportunity to meet with His Worship the Mayor of Gibraltar, Nicky Guerrero, who was attending in his capacity as Secretary General of the MedCruise Association, further strengthening Gibraltar’s presence within key industry networks. In addition, the Gibraltar Tourist Board collaborated with Calypso Tours, who were also in attendance at the convention, to enhance joint promotional efforts and showcase Gibraltar’s extensive and high-quality tour offering and experiences for cruise passengers.

As a member of MedCruise, the GTB also utilised the association’s stand to conduct meetings and engage with partners, benefiting from the collective presence of Mediterranean destinations. Gibraltar was further showcased through the screening of the “Beyond Your Expectations” campaign video, highlighting the destination’s diverse tourism offering.

Minister Santos said: “It was crucial to have Gibraltar represented at this important cruise industry event. Seatrade remains a key platform to ensure Gibraltar maintains strong visibility within the cruise industry, whilst continuing to build on existing relationships and develop new opportunities. I am confident that the positive engagement generated will translate into tangible benefits for Gibraltar, potentially as early as this year.”

Gibraltar continues to see strong growth in the cruise sector, with approximately 260 cruise calls expected in 2026, representing an increase of over 18% compared to 2025. Engagement at events such as Seatrade Cruise Global plays an important role in sustaining this positive trajectory and ensuring Gibraltar remains a competitive and attractive port of call.