Sun&Blue Congress inaugurates its second edition in Almeria

Sun&Blue Congress, the first international congress of Tourism and Blue Economy has inaugurated this morning its second edition in an institutional act in which Tim Ott, general director of the congress; Arturo Bernal, Minister of Tourism and Foreign Andalusia of the Junta de Andalucía; María del Mar Vázquez, mayoress of Almería; Javier Aureliano García, president of Diputación de Almería; and José de la Uz, president of RECI have participated.

The second edition of Sun&Blue Congress will be held until November 22nd at the Palacio de Exposiciones y Congresos 'Cabo de Gata - Ciudad de Almería' with a total of 198 speakers, four keynotes, thirty-three round tables, twelve side events, twelve exhibitors and six statups, a networking area and a scientific dissemination area. The congress is structured around nine themes: Ports and Maritime Industry, Islands and Territories, Coasts and Beaches, Technology, Energy, Financing, Sports, Culture and Gastronomy, and Hospitality.

Tim Ott, director of Sun&Blue Congress confirmed during his speech that the objectives set for the second edition have been met: “we have grown quantitatively but also qualitatively, with internationalization being the main challenge achieved. We have speakers and attendees from 33 countries and of the 12 side events organized, 8 are international”. For Ott, tourism and the blue economy “is not a concept, it is the responsibility of society as a whole”.

Arturo Bernal, Minister of Tourism and Foreign Andalusia of the Junta de Andalucía said that Sun&Blue Congress has established itself as the benchmark event of tourism and blue economy after two editions of celebration, referring to the increase of congress participants, industry professionals, countries represented and quality of the scientific program. As he has stated, “the Mediterranean is the most important area in the world in terms of tourist attraction but also the most affected by climate change”. The Andalusian Government is committed to sustainability and sustainable tourism “being a maxim in our strategic planning”. “In the last three years the Junta de Andalucía has invested 225 million euros in tourism sustainability plans in destination, benefiting 335 municipalities,” he recalled.

The mayor of Almeria, Maria del Mar Vazquez, has moved that “Almeria is a city that aspires, from humility and work, to be a reference capital of a model of tourism oriented to the marine environment, focused on sustainability and able to convert the potential of the environment in a key element of the value chain of smart coastal destinations.” Therefore, said the councilor, “it is no coincidence that the Sun & Blue is held in Almeria, because this conference emphasizes many of the aspects on which our city model is based: sustainability, accessibility, inclusive development or quality services.” “We want Almeria to be the Andalusian and Spanish capital of Blue Tourism and lead the way towards a more conscious, more responsible tourism model that values the seas and oceans as engines of the economy,” he added. “In Almeria, sustainability and the blue economy are, above all, anticipation and future. That is why, for our city, Sun&Blue is, above all, an opportunity for the future,” concluded the mayoress.

The president of the Diputación de Almería, Javier Aureliano García, has been proud to consolidate a congress that is much more than a meeting point for the sector: “It is a platform that promotes collaboration between experts, companies, and administrations to address the challenges and opportunities of tourism and the blue economy. In Almeria, we are aware that our coastline is much more than a tourist destination: it is a real treasure. Our coast is an economic, social and cultural engine that reflects our identity as a province”. Similarly, he stressed that the blue economy in Almeria has a differentiating character, which gives us a unique opportunity and a competitive advantage over other destinations in the Mediterranean arc, combining the beauty of our sea with unique experiences and sustainable crops. “Each hectometer of desalinated water that the sea offers us irrigates 166 hectares throughout the season and generates 500 fixed salaries. In addition, we feed 500 million Europeans. I want to underline the commitment of the Provincial Council: we will continue working to make the blue economy a key axis of development in our province.”

Jose de la Uz, president of the Smart Cities Network (RECI), described the Sun&Blue Congress as the blue economy and tourism congress “a reference in Spain and Europe”. He added that it is the perfect event to reflect on the challenges of sustainability, which he pointed out “must always go hand in hand with technology”. In the same way, he affirmed that RECI supports strategies as important as the blue economy and confirmed that “Almeria is being the reference with the celebration of this congress”.

In addition to the institutional act, the first day of Sun&Blue Congress hosted two keynote speeches by Gunter Pauli, better known as the creator of the Blue Economy concept; and Antonio Lopez de Avila, director of Innovation, Education and Investment in UN Tourism, and Stewart Sarkozy-Banoczy, director general of the World Oceana Council who addressed the future of smart destinations and the blue economy.

In terms of round tables, this inaugural day focused on two tracks: technology and ports. The eight roundtable discussions were focused on topics such as 5G in the new blue economy; the blue digital twins; the smart destination platform for blue destinations; the importance of data in the blue economy; the relationship between port and city; the green horizons of the sea; the ports of tomorrow; and innovation in the nautical industry.

There was also a round table discussion on thermal experiences and their dynamizing role against depopulation; four parallel events of the StepbyWater Alliance were held to discuss climate change, the importance of water for the development of life and strategic sectors and water scarcity; a working meeting of the Intermediterranean Commission (CPMR) on sustainable cultural and maritime tourism; and “Dialogue: Alliance for the Sea,” a meeting between Gunter Pauli and fishing industry leaders where they debated and reflected on how the Blue Economy can be integrated more harmoniously with the realities and challenges of the fishing sector.

During the first day of the congress the Ministry of Tourism and Andalusia Exterior of the Junta de Andalucía and Suncruise Andalucía have signed the adhesion to the 'Manifesto for the development of sustainability in the ecosystem of sailing and cruises'. This manifesto is part of the 'Blue Ports' strategy carried out by Suncruise to highlight the fact that ports are not only tourism, logistics and transport, but also a commitment to innovation and sustainability in their management and strategy. The event was attended by Arturo Bernal, Minister of Tourism and Foreign Andalusia of the Junta de Andalucía, and Gerardo Landaluce, president of Suncruise Andalucía.

LATAM and Zanzibar delegation at Sun&Blue Congress
Among the attendees at the second edition of Sun&Blue Congress is a delegation from Latin America to exchange experiences and analyze innovative strategies to promote blue tourism, highlighting its value as an economic engine and tool for environmental conservation. Advancing regional cooperation on tourism and the blue economy, strengthening collaboration and fostering synergies among the participating countries were the objectives set for their participation.

The delegation is made up of institutional representatives from Misiones (Argentina), governor, minister of Tourism and general director of Statistics and Market Research; Mar del Plata (Argentina), general director of the municipal tourism agency; Fortaleza (Brazil), secretary of Tourism; Ecuador, undersecretary of National Tourism Development of the Ministry of Tourism; Galapagos, president of the Governing Council of the Special Regime; Brazil, director of Tourism Planning, Intelligence, Innovation and Competitiveness of the Ministry of Tourism; and Peru, vice-minister of Tourism.

In addition, a delegation of 20 Zanzibar VIPs led by H.E. Othman Msoud Othman, first vice president; Mudrick Ramadhani Soraga, minister of tourism; and Sheha Mjaja, director general of the environmental management authority, is attending.