The Balearic Islands Maritime Cluster presents a project to get to know areas of Majorca

The Maritime and Logistics Cluster of the Balearic Islands (CMIB), together with the Spanish Association of Nautical Activities (AENIB), have presented the study of two nautical destinations as stipulated by the project Coastal and River Cruise Network of Nautical Destinations (RED CCF) with the aim of creating an offer of quality coastal cruises in Mallorca, following criteria of sustainability and putting in value the natural and cultural heritage of the destinations.

The presentation was attended by the Director General of the Tourism Strategy Agency of the Balearic Islands AETIB, Pere Joan Planas, the president of the CMIB, Iolanda Piedra, the president of the Galician Association of Nautical Activities, Manuel Soliño, Susana Salom, deputy mayor for tourism of Mahón and Carlos Hellín, head of communication of AENIB.

The Maritime Cluster of the Balearic Islands is a partner in the Coastal and River Cruise Network project for sustainable nautical destinations, an initiative financed by the European Union with Next Generation EU funds, with an investment of almost 2 million euros. Pere Joan Planas, recognises that "tourism in our autonomous community encompasses everything, it is all impregnated with tourism, where we can no longer grow much more in quantity, now we should start to grow in quality".

The president of the Cluster, Iolanda Piedra, explained that "the CMIB in the RED CCF project aims to promote Mallorca as a nautical destination of reference, beyond its crystal clear waters and stunning scenery, but also for its commitment to sustainability and local economic development" and gradually create destinations throughout the Balearic Islands.

The president pointed out that "when we talk about the blue economy, or we talk about the impact of the maritime sector, we have to understand the living marine resources, such as fishing, the non-living, such as mining, or also the non-renewable, port activities, the construction and repair of ships, in this case, maritime transport, coastal tourism, renewable leisure energies or marine biotechnology".

The RED CCF project, led by the Galician Association of Nautical Activities-AGAN+, will be implemented in 10 autonomous communities in order to create an innovative platform for planning the development of nautical destinations in Spain, according to Manuel Soliño, president of the Galician Association of Nautical Activities and President of the Spanish Network of Coastal and River Cruises of Spain.

"What we want is for there to be an offer of coastal and river cruises under quality standards with stopovers, in other words, an offer of national coastal cruises". Soliño added that "this project does not mean competition for the charters, on the contrary, it is opening up a new business for them to join, making another type of product known outside".

In this sense, according to the president of the Cluster, "at the CMIB we aim to position Mallorca and promote a new approach in the cruise industry" away from traditional models and "committed to sustainability and diversity of experiences".

To this end, two nautical destinations will be launched, a route to the east to discover the eastern area of Mallorca and another land-based maritime route to the south of the island, from the Cabo Blanco lighthouse to Es Trenc, as Hellín explained.

The launch of these two nautical destinations aims to promote a new way of discovering the island, highlighting its potential as a unique and sustainable destination for lovers of the sea and sailing. An initiative that will bring profitability to maritime activity, through sustainable boats that will give a boost to local micro and small businesses in the sector.

Soliño explained that "we are working on this whole project within a framework of quality and sustainability, which is why within the network we are analyzing what solutions and good practices already exist in terms of sustainability, the environment and quality, with the aim that in the future we will not have to learn from our mistakes, but rather move forward with them".

Piedra stressed that "it is important to present this study and these routes and their sustainable plans, starting with the island of Mallorca, which will not stay here. I'm sure that with the support of the administrations and the private sector of Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera, we can extend them.