Tarragona port to reach 236,000 annual cruise ship passengers in ten years

The port of Tarragona, in southern Catalonia, is expected to welcome over 236,000 annual cruise ship passengers by 2033, doubling current figures. 

This year, around 110,000 travelers docked at the Moll de Balears area, disembarking from 55 different cruise ships since January. 

These visitors spent an average of €18 per person, while the cruise ship sector had an economic impact of around €16 million, according to Alba Colet, head of Global Ports Holding commercial area, who spoke at a conference on sustainability at Tarragona's port. 

Colet believes that by 2033, the cruise ships' economic impact will increase to €43 million a year. 

Tarragona situation "light years" from Barcelona

The situation in Tarragona is "light years" from the situation in Barcelona, Colet said, with no "congestion". 

"When a cruise ship arrives, it is noticeable because there are more people moving in the city, the question is how to organize the flow of passengers, but it is neither a situation of alarm, critical nor 365 days a year." 

The commercial delegate in Catalonia of Mundomar Cruceros, José Luís Gómez, also spoke at the conference, saying that the way cruise passengers are perceived must change. 

He believes they should be seen as a medium to long-term tourism opportunity as many of them, he says, may return to the city on holiday after their cruise visit. 

"If we take care of the cruise passengers, meet them at the port, give them a map and show them everything they can see and don't get in one visit, they will most likely want to come back," he said. 

The general manager of MSC Cruises and Explora Journeys, Fernando Pacheco, explained how the company has ships powered by liquefied natural gas. 

"This fuel is the least polluting fossil fuel that exists, reducing CO2 emissions into the atmosphere by 25%," he said. The cruise industry is one of the "least polluting and most advanced" environmentally, he argued, saying the sector generates "only 4% of CO2 emissions." 

Podcast 

Barcelona is Europe's busiest cruise port, with around 800 cruise ships carrying more than 3 million passengers a year. 

Listen to the podcast below on the cruise industry's economic impact, environmental issues and role in the debate on tourism.