The port of Barcelona has received over 1 million cruise line passengers during the first half of the year

Barcelona (ACN).- Europe’s most popular cruise line destination has received a marked increase in the number of passengers visiting the Catalan capital. There has been a 15% increase in the number of cruise line passengers choosing to take cruises that depart or visit Barcelona. The first six months of this year the city received 1,040,823 passengers which is a 15% increase on 2012.

Furthermore, more cruise liners have docked in the city for at least one night, also up 15% from last year. The local economy has benefited from this form of tourism as many cruise line passengers often spend a few days in Barcelona before or after their cruises to enjoy the sights and culture of the city. The forecast for the end of the year is to reach 1.4 million cruise line passengers, a figure that would equal the record of 2011. Barcelona’s passenger ferry service has also seen a noted increase in passengers with 1.4 million journeys taken, an increase of 9% on 2012.

Increased exports

Exports from the port of the Catalan capital have also risen by 12% to 276,283 containers (one TEU is the equivalent to a 20-foot container). As for imports, there was a slight decrease of 2% in the first half of the year, despite a 5% rise in June. The total amount of containers passing through the port for the first half of the year was 828,169 TEU. Poor domestic consumption, in contrast to the confidence in Catalan production, is reflected in the 4% decrease of imported containers.