Arbatax is focusing on luxury cruises: four out of five arrivals at the Ogliastra port are for this niche market. This was revealed during the Italian Cruise Day in Tour event, titled "Arbatax: Sardinia that Surprises. Challenges and Opportunities for Tourism from the Sea."
The event, organized by the Sardinian Sea Port System Authority, in collaboration with Risposte Turismo and under the patronage of the Municipality of Tortolì, brought together institutions, companies, operators, and industry experts at the "Symposion" Conference Center in Porto Frailis to define strategies for the port's growth. For Arbatax, the consolidation of its market position is already evident in the 2027-2028 itineraries.
Grand Circle Cruise Line, with its ships Clio and Corinthian, and Emerald Cruises, have included the port in new Mediterranean routes that will also connect several Sardinian ports through a multi-port arrangement. The discussion then continued with the roundtable discussion "Cruises and the Territory: Strategies for the Growth of the Port of Arbatax."
Presentations by Giulia Balzano (Tortolì Foundation), Salvatore Corrias (Autonomous Region of Sardinia), Sandro Murtas (Strategic Management Partners), and Alessio Seoni (Province of Ogliastra) highlighted the need to strengthen the integration between the port and the surrounding area, by enhancing cultural sites, environmental resources, and the hospitality industry. The process launched yesterday is not limited to discussion alone.
Today and tomorrow, representatives of cruise lines and tour operators, after a technical visit to the port of Arbatax, will take part in a family trip organized with the support of the municipal administration. Two days of first-hand experience of the destination, including boat excursions along the coves of Ogliastra, visits to local food and wine producers, the archaeological site of S'Ortali 'e Su Monte, and a journey to discover local traditions.
"The meeting continues an operational process, initiated in Porto Torres and extended to the other ports in the system, aimed at consolidating the destination with the direct involvement of all sector stakeholders," explains Domenico Bagalà, president of the AdSP of the Sardinian Sea. "This process requires joint and ongoing work because, in a market that is growing alongside ever-increasing competition, there are no automatic mechanisms. The agency's commitment is to make the system's ports increasingly welcoming to this segment and to maximize the region's offerings, making the experience at each of the agency's eight ports unique."
(Unioneonline)