Spanish ports present the sustainable future of cruise ships at Seatrade Cruise

• The fair, which begins today, is the most important in the world in the cruise sector, with the participation of shipping companies and destinations
• Spain is Europe's second largest cruise destination, with more than 12 million cruise passengers received in 2023

04/08/2024 (Public Body: State Ports). From today, State Ports and ports of public interest will participate in Seatrade Cruise Global, the largest cruise fair in the world to be held on April 8-11, where they will present their port facilities and services for cruise tourism with a firm commitment to sustainability.

The figures for cruise passengers passing through Spanish ports in 2023 of more than 12 million, which is an absolute record, on board 4,500 ships confirm Spain as the second largest European destination for this type of travel, and Spanish ports of public interest as the gateway for a sector committed to sustainability.

At the Ports of Spain booth and under the slogan "We welcome you as you deserve," 23 of the 28 Port Authorities will be present to convey to shipping companies the competitive advantages of including Spanish ports in their routes. The magnitude of the Seatrade Cruise Global fair is evident from the expected figures: more than 600 exhibitors, around 120 countries represented and more than 10,000 attendees.

During the conference, the institutional visit to the booth, coordinated by State Ports, of the Consul for Tourism Affairs of Spain in Miami, Elvira Marcos, as well as the presentation of the Port of Motril, Granada is anticipated.  The Port of Malaga, for its part, will officially present Seatrade Med Malaga 2024, which for the second time in a row will bring this cruise fair to the Andalusian city in September.

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 contributes a gross added value of around five billion euros and more than 40,000 jobs in Spain.

To ensure sustainable growth, Spanish ports work hand in hand with shipping companies, the port community and local institutions, with initiatives such as cleaner fuel supply to ships, energy use reduction, minimization of pollutant emissions and noise, advances in digitization and innovation, promotion of the full integration of ports with the cities that host them, as well as increased mobility of tourists to offer them the best experience in our country.

Especially relevant is the effort in the deployment of OPS (Onshore Power Supply), electrical connections at docks so that ships, including cruise ships, can connect to the grid by turning off their auxiliary engines and reducing emissions to the atmosphere and noise. The objective of State Ports is for state-owned ports to be ready to supply electricity from renewable sources by 2030.