Puertos del Estado presents at Fitur a record number of cruise passengers and its commitment to sustainability

• Spanish ports recorded more than 12 million cruise passenger movements in 2023, exceeding the historic figure of 10.6 million in 2019

23-01-2024 (State Ports Public Body). Puertos del Estado and the Spanish port system attend Fitur 2024 with record numbers of cruise passengers and a firm commitment to caring for the environment to continue promoting sustainable tourism.

From 24 to 28 January, within the stand of the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility in pavilion 10, Puertos del Estado will present the offer of port facilities and services for cruise tourism and nautical sports, with sustainability as a common thread.

2023 has not only been the year of full recovery for cruise tourism after the pandemic, but also the year in which the record figure of 10.6 million cruise passengers through Spanish ports, set in 2019, has been broken. In total, 12 million passed through our ports last year (+46.6% compared to 2022), maintaining Spain as the second cruise destination in Europe, behind Italy.

The impact of this sector is very important for the economy not only of port cities, but of Spain as a whole. The cruise industry generated an economic impact of €5.6 billion and more than 42,000 jobs in Spain in 2022, according to a study carried out by Tourism Economics / Oxford Economics for the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA). A year in which, especially during the first part, the effects of the pandemic and the consequent restrictions were still being felt.

'Destination Spain' is undoubtedly the main attraction for shipping companies that choose our ports as a base or stopover, but in addition to that are the first-class infrastructures and the quality of the services of the ports of general interest that are the first impression for tourists who arrive in our country by sea. This topic will be discussed at the Conference organized by MSC and Puertos del Estado at the stand on Wednesday 24 at 1 p.m. under the title  "MSC Cruises and its commitment to Spanish ports". In addition, on Thursday 25 at 11.30 a.m. in the context of Fitur Cruises (Pavilion 4), the head of the Port Community Services Area of Puertos del Estado, Jaime Luezas, will  present "Record in cruises: That's how Spanish ports experience it."

But if there is one theme that will mark this edition of Fitur, it is that of the commitment of Spanish ports to sustainability, as contemplated in the Strategic Framework of the state-owned port system, which guides the transformation of Spanish ports from economic,  environmental and social dimensions. These new challenges are being developed through specific projects aimed at promoting decarbonisation, such as the OPS programme, to supply electricity to ships docked on land to reduce emissions and noise; the use of alternative fuels, such as LNG; breakthroughs in digitalisation and innovation, and the promotion of the full integration of ports with the cities that house them with sustainable projects.

The Port Authority of Cadiz will present on Thursday 25 at 10:45 a.m. in the VIP lounge of Fitur Cruises (Pavilion 4) its OPS (Onshore Power Supply) project, which will allow it to become the first port to offer electricity supply to cruise ships at the dock in 2024, so that they can turn off their auxiliary engines, thus reducing the emission of polluting gases and noise.

On Wednesday 24 at 11 a.m. in the VIP lounge of Fitur Cruises (Pavilion 4), AP Tarragona will present its new cruise terminal, operated by Global Ports Holding. Sustainable, eco-efficient and innovative, it is expected to be completed this spring.

The port of Motril, for its part, will present the 'destination Granada' at the Puertos del Estado stand on Thursday 25 at 10:30 a.m.

In addition, the Port Authority of Malaga will make the official presentation of the Seatrade Med Malaga 2024  edition, which will bring together the main shipping companies, operators and destinations in this Andalusian city in September for the second consecutive year, after the good results obtained in 2022. The event will be held in the Andalusian pavilion (Crush room) on Thursday 25 at 12:20 p.m. and will be attended by the president of Puertos del Estado, Álvaro Rodríguez Dapena.

For its part, the AP Vigo will show how the grey infrastructures of the port environment can become green, with its project 'Peiraos do Solpor' , which has received numerous international awards,  at the stand of the Xunta de Galicia (pavilion 9) on Thursday 25 at 11:30 a.m. and with the participation of the president of Puertos del Estado.