Ship and berthing fees will be reduced by 40%. The discounts will generate savings of €600,000 for shipping companies.
The Port Authority of Valencia (APV) will assume leadership of the working group for the promotion of cruise tourism in Valencia. This was agreed upon this afternoon at the APV headquarters by tourism representatives from the Valencia City Council and Provincial Council, the Valencian Tourism Agency, the Valencian Shipping Association, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Valencian Business Confederation, who have formally established themselves as the Valencia Cruise Working Group. “This convergence of shared interests between public and private institutions underscores the importance of our common goal: to enhance Valencia and its surrounding area as a tourist destination in the face of increasingly significant cruise tourism,” explained Joan Calabuig, First Deputy Mayor of Valencia.
The president of the Port Authority of Valencia (APV), Aurelio Martínez, stated at the end of the meeting that “cruise tourism has a very clear impact on the economies of the cities and regions that receive these visitors. In Barcelona, for example, cruise passengers contribute an average of 7 million euros per day. In Valencia, it would be different, but we could make estimates of what the contribution of cruise ships could represent, given that they constitute a clear opportunity for the city.”.
Aurelio Martínez explained that “the port’s commitment to its city and its surroundings will be evident, also in this matter, with the application of a 40% discount, both on the ship tax and on the passenger tax (the maximum legally allowed), for the docking of cruise ships; a measure that will mean savings of 600,000 euros per year for the shipping companies.”.
Meanwhile, the president of the Port Authority of Valencia (APV) has specified that the tender for the new cruise terminal – whose construction will represent an investment of 8 million euros – will be launched in 2017, so that it can be operational as soon as possible.
“The Port is also committed,” said Aurelio Martínez, “to developing a commercial strategy aimed at attracting and/or retaining more than 50 shipping companies with a proven track record in Western Mediterranean ports, so that, either through the number of port calls or the type of operations they carry out, they will increase or improve activity levels in Valencia. This,” he added, “will require more promotion and communication because, while the level of satisfaction among our visitors is good, it will be difficult for those unfamiliar with us to visit.”.
For their part, public administrations will work to accelerate the adaptation of the areas near the terminals to improve the first impression of the city for cruise passengers arriving in Valencia.
The First Deputy Mayor of Valencia, Joan Calabuig, also explained at the end of today's meeting that "we are going to work together on national and international promotion, with the Port taking the lead, so that Valencia becomes the embarkation and disembarkation hub for the largest number of cruise ships.".
The first meeting of the Valencia cruise group was attended by Aurelio Martinez, Manuel Guerra and Manuel Rodriguez, representing the Port Authority of Valencia (APV); Joan Calabuig, Antonio Bernabé and Máximo Caretio, representing the Valencia City Council and Turisme València; Antonio Crespo, representing the Valencian Shipping Association; Isabel Palafox and Javier Solsona, representing the Valencian Tourism Agency; Mónica Morales, representing the Valencia Chamber of Commerce; Inmaculada García, representing the Valencian Business Confederation; and Pau Pérez, representing the Valencia Provincial Council
The group was created with the objective of promoting, planning and executing all promotional, commercial, operational and institutional initiatives that, while outside the direct scope of the Port Authority, help to consolidate the city of Valencia as a leading tourist destination for the cruise industry in the Western Mediterranean, all in accordance with the traffic objectives established for 2020.
From now on, the main lines of work will involve the configuration of a specific offer aimed at shipping companies and tour operators (culture, commerce, leisure, excursions, gastronomy directly aimed at the cruise passenger); the creation of a differentiated offer for cruises and the development of a communication strategy focused on the decision centers of the companies involved, enabling the most appropriate means and formats.
