A new all-time record was set in 2015: 8.4 million cruise passengers. Cruise tourism is a key factor in Spain's growing popularity as a tourist destination.
Cruise passenger traffic through Spanish ports reached 7,872,651 people in the first eleven months of 2015, an increase of 10.36% compared to the same period of the previous year. Based on these figures, forecasts indicate that the final year will bring a new all-time high, exceeding 8.4 million cruise passengers and nearly 4,000 cruise ships.
On the Iberian Peninsula, Barcelona, the Balearic Islands, the Bay of Cádiz, Málaga, and Valencia on the Mediterranean coast, and Vigo and A Coruña on the Atlantic coast, are the most prominent ports in terms of passenger numbers. Nationally, Alicante stands out for its remarkable growth of 128%. The ports of the Canary Islands deserve special mention, having received a combined total of 1.8 million cruise passengers. With an overall growth of 16.7%, they have significantly outperformed the national average, receiving 260,000 more passengers than the previous year.
As for the number of cruise ships, growth has been more moderate, at around 4%, reaching 3,570 cruise ships. In this respect, the Balearic Islands stand out, with 773 ships, having seen their ports particularly benefit from the diversion of numerous cruise ships that would otherwise have called at ports in African countries along the Mediterranean coast.
With these credentials, the State's ports of general interest are presenting themselves at the FITUR international tourism fair as a unique way to discover Spain. Under the slogan, "Blue Carpet: Explore Spain through its ports ," the proposal showcases our ports, with their modern, competitive facilities, located on the routes to the main tourist destinations. These ports are equipped to handle cruise traffic with the highest standards of quality, safety, and service, and offer a gateway to the entire country.
The government has made a significant effort to convince shipping companies and tour operators of the excellent option of including Spanish ports in their routes. In addition to the tariff reductions and discounts implemented in recent years, other measures have been taken, such as extending concession periods for companies undertaking new investments in their facilities, and the announced freeze on tariffs for 2016.
To all this must be added the effort deployed by local councils and tourism organizations at the local and regional level, which have devised interesting routes and offers to discover the cultural offerings of their cities or provinces in the few hours or days they spend in the ports.
