Paula Cabaco (president of Madeira Ports/APRAM SA) has set a key objective for the association, which brings together the port authorities of Madeira, Azores, Canary Islands, and Cape Verde: the creation of a unified cruise destination known as Macaronesia.
Cabaco stated this is the direction they must take - a new cruise destination that communicates directly and cohesively with the industry. She emphasized that the four archipelagos under the Cruise Atlantic Islands (CAI) brand possess distinct characteristics, with unique identities that complement each other, forming a compelling and differentiated product for cruise tourism.
Cabaco drew a parallel to the established Caribbean cruise market, stating that the Macaronesian islands have the potential to become a key cruise destination in the Atlantic. This ambition was reiterated during the 2024 CAI Conference in Funchal, the first formal meeting of the port authorities of Madeira, Azores, Canary Islands (Las Palmas and Tenerife), and Cape Verde, following the official formation of the International Association of Ports of Macaronesia.
The establishment of this legal entity provides new opportunities, including the potential to apply for European funding to promote the destination and the ability to represent the archipelagos with a unified voice when negotiating with cruise companies. Cabaco noted that they know they have a single point of contact, highlighting the association's next steps, which include holding a general assembly on November 11th in Madrid, where the activity plan for the coming year will be finalized.
At this inaugural meeting, the governing bodies of the association will be appointed, and the presidency will rotate among the members, with Paula Cabaco set to lead the first two-year term. The speakers at the conference underscored the advantages of the Macaronesian islands as a cruise destination, citing the safety, uniqueness, and complementarity of the archipelagos, along with their high-quality port infrastructure, favorable climate, air connectivity, and proximity to major European capitals.
During the conference, APRAM also took the opportunity to formalize an environmental cooperation agreement in the presence of CLIA Europe’s vice president, Nikos Mertzadinis.
The agreement, signed by Funchal City Council, CLIA, and Madeira Ports, commits to annual reforestation and environmental education initiatives in the Funchal Ecological Park, involving cruise lines that visit Madeira. This initiative was promptly put into action with a tree planting event held in the park during the conference.