Commissioner Tzitzikostas' keynote speech at the 8th Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum

European Commission -Speech [Check Against Delivery] Commissioner Tzitzikostas' keynote speech at the 8th Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum Brussels, 6 May 2025 Ladies and gentlemen, It is a great honour and pleasure to be here in Heraklion. You have truly chosen the best time of the year to showcase Crete to the sea tourism community! Crete is a magnificent island, and one of the most visited European and Greek destinations. I really hope you enjoy the warmth of the famous Greek hospitality, and discover some of the most iconic tourist, cultural and archaeological landmarks. Ladies and gentlemen, I address you today as the European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, And there are only few topics that bridge both sides of my portfolio, as effectively as cruise tourism. So, I would like to share my vision for tourism, and explain how cruise tourism fits into that picture. I will touch on some of the challenges the sector is facing, many of which I know are on your agenda for later today, and offer some solutions as I see them. But first, let's take a step back to appreciate what tourism has brought us. In economic terms, tourism contributes nearly 10% to EU GDP and supports over 20 million jobs. But it's not only about numbers. Tourism builds bridges between cultures and fosters mutual understanding, something we need now more than ever. The good news is that tourism...