It will take place on January 22nd at the Port of Vigo.
The course will cover “The Cruise Destination” and will be taught by CruisesNews Media Group, a company specializing in this sector.
The Vigo Port Authority and the Pontevedra Provincial Council will collaborate in organizing a conference specializing in cruise traffic, which will take place on January 22nd in the Vigo Port Session Building.
This was announced yesterday by the top port official, Ignacio López-Chaves, and the Vice President of the Provincial Council, José Manuel Figueroa, at a joint press conference in which both institutions advocated for knowledge of the sector in order to improve and maintain Vigo's position as the leading port in Northern Spain for cruise passengers.
According to López-Chaves, this course, aimed at professionals in the port community, hospitality, leisure, tourism companies, tourism technicians, students, and any professional wishing to learn more about the sector and find business opportunities, will offer a more realistic view of the economic importance of cruise traffic for the city. Taught by CruisesNews Media Group, a company specializing in the cruise industry, it will feature the participation of experts and active professionals in the cruise industry.
Significant promotional effort
As López-Chaves pointed out, the Port makes a significant effort every year to attract this traffic and promote both the port and the destination itself, which in this industry form an almost inseparable pair. In this regard, he highlighted the investment, in recent years, of nearly 10 million euros in upgrading port infrastructure for cruise traffic, as well as renovating an area located in the city center, for the enjoyment of Vigo's residents.
Similarly, the Port Authority visits shipowners in the US and Europe every year, and even, when possible, arranges for shipowners' decision-makers to visit Vigo. It also attends all the major international trade fairs in the sector, promoting Vigo within the industry, and participates in initiatives undertaken by the European trade associations to which it belongs.
“For years, we have been working intensively from a commercial point of view, and today is another step in this direction, more focused internally, rather than externally. After all, the shipowners themselves maintain that it is essential for them that the port and the destination work together,” he emphasized.
Primary means of entry
Regarding cruise ship traffic to the city, López-Chaves stated that the overall figures reaffirm cruise ship traffic as the primary means of attracting tourists to the city. He noted that in 2014, more than 243,000 visitors—176,019 passengers and 67,156 crew members—arrived in Vigo through the Port, which, once again, placed the Vigo terminal at the top of the cruise passenger rankings for the entire northern and northwestern Iberian Peninsula, with a 2.5% increase compared to 2013. He emphasized that “the Port is the main entry point for foreign tourists in Vigo, of whom more than 100,000 are British.”.
More than 70% stay in Vigo
Regarding the preferences of cruise passengers visiting us, the top port official indicated that "more than 70% of cruise passengers stay in Vigo" and within the excursions, "their first choice is the city itself", while highlighting that "what gives us an advantage over other destinations is the wide variety of excursions we offer".
Therefore, he wanted to publicly thank tourism experts for their collaboration, such as that provided by the Pontevedra Provincial Council through the Rías Baixas Tourism Board. He emphasized that this was a “personal commitment of José Manuel Figueroa.”.
Promote the Rías Baixas destination
For his part, the Vice President of the Provincial Council advocated for the need to promote the Rías Baixas as a high-quality tourist destination. “Promoting tourism means promoting cruises,” he said, adding that “the city should get involved in this sector, seeking unity and coordination.” “It is one of the pillars of the future economy, which is why we will continue to collaborate with the Port Authority as much as possible,” he affirmed.
According to Figueroa, this sector represents 12% of the GDP of the province of Pontevedra and the Rías Baixas is the 5th destination at the national level in Spain, visited by more than 2 million tourists in 2014 and with more than 4 million overnight stays registered during the last year, with a turnover of more than 2 billion euros and which employs more than 40,000 people.
