Sustainability sets the course for Spanish ports at FITUR
Spanish ports are embracing a future marked by enhanced sustainability, connectivity, and innovation to improve their competitiveness and contribute to boosting tourism.
January 19, 2022 (Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda). The Spanish port system, consisting of 46 general interest ports managed by 28 Port Authorities and coordinated by Puertos del Estado, is participating in the International Tourism Fair, FITUR, with a diverse offering that combines services and facilities for cruise tourism and recreational nautical activities with sustainability and eco-proactivity.
Under the theme "Shared Course to Sustainability," Puertos del Estado and the Port Authorities present themselves at a stand alongside Mitma, aligning with their Safe, Sustainable, and Connected Mobility Strategy and the goal of building the ports of the future—sustainable, connected, and innovative—to enhance their competitiveness in all traffic, including passengers, and contribute to boosting tourism.
SUSTAINABLE AND ECO-PROACTIVE PORTS: THE CORE OF THE NEW STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK
In this edition, the president of Puertos del Estado, Álvaro Rodríguez Dapena, will participate in various events, such as the presentation of the "Ruta 1400, Huelva-Canarias" by the Port Authority of Huelva, aiming to increase the number of Spanish and foreign passengers traveling from the port of Huelva to the Canary Islands with their vehicles as part of their journey through Europe and the peninsula.
Additionally, Rodríguez Dapena will attend the Seatrade Cruise Med event, hosted this year in Malaga, emphasizing Spain's importance in the international cruise sector. He will also attend a joint event with CLIA, the Cruise Lines International Association, highlighting sustainability projects developed in ports and cruises.
From the perspective of sustainability and eco-proactivity projects implemented by Spanish ports, emphasis is placed on promoting the use of alternative energies in maritime transport and the OPS MasterPlan for Spanish Ports project, funded by the European Union. This project aims to provide electric power to ships berthed in Spanish ports, with feasibility studies conducted in the ports of A Coruña, Santander, Cádiz, Málaga, S.C. de Tenerife, and Valencia.
PROGRESSIVE RECOVERY OF CRUISE PASSENGER TRAFFIC
During the pandemic, the management of Puertos del Estado and the Port Authorities has been crucial for the return of cruises to our country, seeking to favor and ensure the safety of this type of tourism—a key driver of the Spanish economy. The sector has established itself as one of the safest, thanks to health, protection, and safety measures for passengers and crew established by the Ministries of Health and Transport and by cruise lines.
Statistics for cruise passenger traffic in Spanish ports of the general system show a growth of over 43.2% until November, compared to the same period of the previous year, with a total movement of nearly 1.9 million passengers.
The recovery of cruise traffic will gradually increase during this year, with a higher number of scheduled stops compared to the previous year, although still below the figures reached in 2019. In that year, Spanish ports set a historical record with over 10.6 million cruise passengers, making Spain the second EU country in receiving cruise passengers, behind Italy. Ports such as Barcelona and those in the Balearic Islands, with 3.1 and 2.6 million passengers respectively, became global benchmarks.
RECREATIONAL NAUTICS ADVANCES WITH FORCE AND DYNAMISM
Recreational nautics has experienced a strong resurgence after a period of inactivity during the worst moments of the pandemic, gaining importance not only as an alternative to traditional tourism but also as a driving force of the Spanish economy.
During the first half of 2021, registrations of recreational boats increased by 7.3% compared to the same period in 2019 and by 50% compared to 2020. The nautical sector contributes approximately 0.7% of the national GDP and more than 110,000 jobs, according to data provided by the National Association of Nautical Companies. These figures suggest a growing market, already constituting a strategic pillar and driving force of the Spanish economy.
The Spanish Port Authorities collectively offer around 30,000 moorings, one-third of the total existing in Spain, concentrating half of the 27 facilities dedicated to megayachts, large leisure boats.
To enhance safe and sustainable navigation, recent initiatives include the entry into force, on July 1, of Royal Decree 339/2021, of May 18, regulating the safety and pollution prevention equipment of recreational boats.