Tourism minister Sir Chris Bryant tells international Liverpool summit that the cruise industry is a ‘vital component of the UK’s tourism ecosystem’. Tony McDonough reports

Industry and political leaders have gathered in Liverpool for a major summit on the global cruise industry.

They came to the city for the  Cruise Lines International Association’s (CLIA) inaugural UK Cruise Tourism Summit. They discussed how cruise can be at the heart of the Government’s tourism strategy that aims to attract 50m visitors a year to the UK by 2030.

UK Minister for Tourism, Sir Chris Bryant, spoke at the event which also saw Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram attend along with representatives from Global Ports Holding (GPH), the new operator of Liverpool Cruise Terminal, who hosted the summit.

After joining the UK Government’s Visitor Economy Advisory Council earlier this year, CLIA hosted this first of its kind event to showcase the important role of cruise in the UK’s inbound, outbound and domestic tourism ecosystem

This event put a spotlight on the more than 60,000 jobs that cruise tourism supports in the UK, including those at UK ports and in the supply chain across all parts of the country.

It kicked off with a launch reception, hosted by Liverpool Cruise Port and GPH, the world’s largest cruise port operator, where Mr Rotheram, and the general manager of Liverpool Cruise Port, John Mawer, welcomed delegates to the city.

It continued today onboard Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Eclipse, where Sire Chris Bryant provided a keynote address that reflected on opportunities that cruise tourism brings to the UK as part of the wider tourism industry.

“The cruise industry is a vital component of the UK’s tourism ecosystem, supporting high quality jobs and bringing opportunities for many of our coastal communities,” said the minister.

“From beautiful islands and coastal towns, to world-famous heritage sites, or any of our four capital cities, cruise guests get to experience the very best of what our country offers.

“It is fantastic to be in Liverpool and to join representatives from across the industry as we celebrate its contributions to the UK and consider how its benefits can spread even further.”

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John Mawer, general manager at Liverpool Cruise Port, added: “As part of Global Ports Holding, we’re focused on unlocking the full potential of cruise tourism for the city and the wider region.

“Achieving this growth means working closely with local partners and aligning with a nationwide strategy for the sector.”