Barcelona is hosting the main event of the world's cruise ship industry, focused on the Mediterranean

Barcelona (ACN).- This week, the Port of Barcelona will become the world cruise capital, hosting the Seatrade Med 3000, an international exhibition bringing together professionals from the all around the world. This is a landmark moment for the Catalan capital: hosting the leading conference in the field of Mediterranean cruise. It is taking place between the 16^th and 18^th of September, with an estimated 3,000 managers, professionals, and industry experts. This adds to Barcelona’s existing reputation as the cruise capital of Europe and the Mediterranean, being the world's 4^th busiest cruise ship harbour, after the top 3 ports in Florida. The arrival of the world’s largest cruise liner, the Oasis of the Seas, last Saturday confirms the Catalan capital's leadership. The gigantic ship's first stop after leaving the Caribbean was the Mediterranean port city. A colossal structure, whose 16 floor height and 362 metre length can comfortably fit a water park, miniature golf course, and shopping mall. Home both to the Oasis of the Seas and the international Seatrade Med 3000 means Barcelona is making nautical headlines worldwide.  

Between the 16^th and 18^th of September, Barcelona is hosting the international Seatrade Med 3000, bringing together around 3,000 professionals and experts in the cruise industry, from around the world. This is another historic occasion for the Catalan capital, which on Saturday made headlines when the world’s largest cruise liner, the Oasis of the Seas, made the city its first stop after leaving the Caribbean for the first time ever. This together with the Seatrade fair this week strengthens the Catalan port's leadership in the European and Mediterranean markets.

The President of the Barcelona Port Authority, Sixte Cambra, pointed out that Barcelona is the leading port in Europe and the Mediterranean, with the number of passengers contributing €300 million to the local economy every year. This makes the Catalan capital the obvious choice for such an event.

The 3-day event consists of a programme of lectures and technical training on today’s cruise sector, featuring leading industry players such as shipbuilders and repairmen, marine equipment suppliers, leisure and entertainment companies, cruise terminals, ports and tour operators. This will make it an event not to be missed by anyone with both professional and leisurely interest in the world of cruise liners.

The industry of cruise holidays is growing fast, reaching 21 million passengers last year at world level, a 77% increase over the past decade. The cruise industry employs 900,000 people around the global (directly and indirectly) and generates $52 billion of tourist spending every year. While in the past the industry has been largely focused on the US market, in more recent years the Mediterranean ports have attracted investment from new customers, such as China.

According to Andrew Williams, the Chairman of the Seatrade Med, Barcelona is a fantastic "hub for the cruise industry". He added that"Barcelona is a great location for tourism and we would like to thank the Port of Barcelona for hosting this show".

This would explain why just last week, the Catalan capital again made headlines, hosting the world’s largest cruise-liner, the Oasis of the Seas. Measuring 364 long by 64 metres high, this vast vessel is carrying over 6,300 passengers and 2,300 crew members. It arrived in the port of Barcelona on Saturday, from where it has embarked on a cruise that will include Civitavecchia and Naples. In May, the Catalan capital will again mark an important milestone in its cruise ship activity record, with the arrival of the twin sister of the Oasis, The Allure of the Seas. Another colossal cruise ship, it is expected to attract passengers from all over the world, including an estimated 20% from Spain.

From an economic point of view, hosting the Oasis of the Seas this month, when the ship will make a total of 3 stops in Barcelona, will have an economic impact of €4 million on the local economy, according to official calculations released by Sixte Cambra. This year, Barcelona is estimated to generate a total of €300 million from the cruise industry in 2014, a sector of economic importance to the city, and further strengthening Catalonia's economy, which has a GDP beyond €200 billion.