Barcelona faces the challenge of balancing its new traveler records and tourist coexistence.
2016 ended with triumphant figures for the Catalan port, with 2.68 million passengers and the notable achievement of seeing the largest growth (14%) among homeport passengers. However, the debate surrounding tourist overcrowding in some areas of the city has affected the port, which is seeking to reduce the seasonality of its activity as much as possible and minimize the environmental impact of cruise ships, while also facing the possibility of a tourist tax for cruise passengers in port. The port is also preparing for 2017 with new port calls, after this activity reached a record in revenue and had a €475 million impact on GDP.
Article from CruisesNews magazine
From Montjuïc mountain or even from the Europa Bridge overlooking the Adossat dock, the parade of super-cruise ships arriving at the port of Barcelona has been a spectacle for years. Barcelonans were struck by the city's growing prominence in an activity that two decades ago seemed almost exotic but is now a staple of the holidays for thousands of Spaniards. So much so, that this year Barcelona was recognized by Cruises News readers as Port of the Year by the Excellence Awards, after closing 2016 with record passenger and cargo traffic, as well as a record economic impact from cruises.
But during this period, the perception of tourism held by a segment of the population and the political class has also shifted; from applause for this source of wealth to criticism of alleged overcrowding. This view affects the entire tourism sector, but with the change in municipal government and the arrival of Ada Colau as mayor, emphasis has been placed on the volume of cruise ships in Barcelona, as this is one of the easiest areas to quantify or control, compared to the flood of day-trippers who, for example, arrive daily by coach or train from coastal towns where they stay during peak season. At the same time, new challenges have arisen to ensure that this maritime infrastructure not only excels in terms of results, but also in sustainability and strategic development.
For this reason, 2017 has become a complex year for the Port of Barcelona. Who would have thought that its European leadership and the development of the best cruise infrastructure on the continent could be called into question? What so many ports yearn for—sustained growth and maintaining high figures even in the midst of an economic crisis—must be handled with modesty and caution because it seems that its success is being questioned by the city council itself, some anti-tourism platforms, and environmental groups. Is Barcelona receiving too many passengers? It's worth remembering that in 2011 its results were similar to those of 2016, but with the crisis hitting the economy hard, that record wasn't questioned, but rather praised.
In 2011 the number of cruise passengers in Barcelona was similar to 2016, but in the midst of the crisis nobody questioned it.
Then there was a slight setback, and 2014 was marked by fewer available berths in the Mediterranean to adjust supply to demand and end the price war. That year resulted in a 9% drop in cruise passengers. But since then, the volume has been recovering, reaching 2.68 million last year, completing a hat trick of records for the port: in passengers, vehicles, and foreign trade containers.
With 758 port calls, what the port president, Sixte Cambra, considers the most significant figure is not the 6% increase in the number of cruise passengers, but rather the fact that the largest increase occurred in turnaround cruises, meaning trips that begin and end in the city, thus generating a greater economic impact. These increased by 14%, raising the percentage of turnaround passengers to 58%, compared to the rest who made stopovers.
This is four points higher than a year ago, demonstrating that efforts have been made to promote homeport activity, with an increase of almost 200,000 cruise passengers in this regard.
New ships from MSC, NCL, Silversea, Viking and Aida will call at the port this year, which will gain another terminal in 2018.
In its recent annual results presentation, Cambra outlined three lines of action for the Barcelona port this year, based on the strategy of "consolidating its leading position in Europe and the Mediterranean" and pursuing sustainable growth. The first of these is precisely to continue strengthening its home port activity, attracting as many routes as possible departing from Barcelona.
The arguments are varied. On the one hand, almost 30% of cruise passengers departing from Barcelona spend one or more days in the city beforehand, so their sightseeing and planning are much less intensive than during transits, when large numbers of passengers disembark and at times seem to overwhelm the Rambla and other areas of the city center. Furthermore, the economic arguments are unequivocal, as spending among these passengers is three times higher than that of those making a stopover.
On the other hand, passengers at the beginning or end of routes often already know the city and are limited to making transfers from the port to the airport, without affecting the tourist journey.
Outside of peak season,
the second strategic focus is on promoting off-season tourism so that sustained growth can be achieved during the off-season. In this regard, the emphasis is on positioning Barcelona as a winter destination for culture, shopping, and leisure activities, outside of the summer season. Work is already underway with cruise lines in this area, as evidenced by the positive reception of winter routes offered by Costa Cruises, NCL, Viking Cruises, and MSC. While some dates are still being finalized for next year, winter forecasts indicate a stable performance during the off-season. However, there is a notable trend toward extending the autumn offerings, with October being a particularly strong month for port calls, and even offering several options in November, as Mar Pérez, head of cruises at the Port of Barcelona, told Cruises News.
Finally, Sixte Cambra adds, the third area to focus on in 2017 is “creating the conditions to receive the most modern and environmentally efficient ships.” One of the issues that has raised questions about cruise ships in Barcelona is their contribution to local pollution. In this area, the port is “very actively” promoting the transition from conventional fuels to liquefied natural gas (LNG), for ships, trucks, and land-based machinery. Several projects are underway to equip the port with the infrastructure to supply LNG to ships, and the port wants to be ready to receive the new cruise ships powered by this energy source.
It's worth remembering that liquefied natural gas (LNG) reduces NOx emissions by 80% and completely eliminates particulate matter and sulfur oxides. In Barcelona, the first two are the most concerning due to their impact on the population. The good news is that the industry is becoming increasingly aware of this issue, as demonstrated by the orders placed by major operators like Carnival and MSC Cruises.
Environmental Initiatives:
Faced with concerns raised by the city council regarding cruise ship pollution, the port recently presented a plan to improve air quality in the Port of Barcelona. This plan was based on an analysis that places the role of emissions from this infrastructure far below what the most critical voices had suggested. According to the Barcelona Regional study, the port's contribution to the city's NOx air pollution was 7.6%, with cruise ships accounting for 1.2%, lower than container ships, cargo ships, and even ferries. And it is light years away from the polluting contribution of land traffic (59.9%).
The port's lines of action involve reducing the seasonality of the supply and prioritizing the activity of the home port.
Regarding PM10 particles, the port accounts for 1.5%, of which 0.2% are attributed to cruise ships. While these figures are not high, the port aims to reduce them, also involving operators who choose clean energy and providing incentives. In this area, the Port of Barcelona has repeatedly called for legislative changes that would allow for environmental discounts exceeding the current 5% on port fees. Cambra is urging the Ministry of Public Works to grant discounts of up to 40%, as other European ports do to attract cleaner vessels. But there are many other smaller-scale initiatives underway, such as ensuring that the entire fleet of vehicles in the port area is electric by 2020.
Improving Economic Impact:
The port has also attempted to quantify the economic impact of the cruise industry to strongly defend its activity. In 2015, a report prepared by the University of Barcelona was presented, highlighting the importance of this source of wealth for Catalonia, and especially for Barcelona. Now, some data has been updated, taking into account the 14% increase in cruise passengers between 2014 – the basis of the initial analysis – and 2016, and above all, the 27% increase in homeport passengers. As a result, the revenue generated by cruise activity in port last year reached €875 million, contributing €457 million to the GDP. Cambra also emphasized that the sector supports 7,518 full-time jobs.
Ships making their first port calls:
The current year, although based on forecasts that assume the figures for 2016 will remain the same (barring any unforeseen events that alter routes or bookings), brings new attractions to the Port of Barcelona. Above all, there is the parade of newly built ships that include Europe's leading port in their itineraries. The first newcomer to arrive in the Catalan capital will be the Viking Sky in March, followed in April by the luxurious Silver Muse, a few days later by the Majestic Princess, in May by the Norwegian Joy and the revamped TUI Discovery 2, the MSC Meraviglia in June, the Aidaperla in September, and the MSC Seaside in December.
But, as Mar Pérez points out, ships with a long history but which have never called at Barcelona are also appearing on the scene. This is the case, for example, of the Freedom of the Seas, which this year takes over from the Oasis of the Seas, although Royal Caribbean will once again position its largest ships in Barcelona starting next year. The brand-new Seabourn Encore will also visit Barcelona, along with two established Holland America ships, the Westerdam and the Veendam.
This momentum is only hampered by the controversial tourist tax proposed by the Catalan government for cruise ships in port. Until now, only those staying for more than 12 hours paid this tax, but the budget law has proposed charging €0.65 to all passengers in transit. The port estimates this would generate around €600,000 annually. While not an exorbitant figure, the port authority has ruled out compensating cruise operators.
However, there is concern within the sector that this tax could set a precedent. There is also concern that some shipping companies might crunch the numbers and prefer to call at ports without added taxes. This seems less likely in Barcelona, given its importance to tourism, but it could harm other, more vulnerable Catalan ports. Cambra has repeatedly expressed its concern about this tax and the uncertainties it creates.
The port of Barcelona expects a passenger volume this year similar to the 2.68 million of 2016 and to grow again in 'turnaround'.
Looking ahead to 2018, however, Barcelona faces good news for its port infrastructure, as the new cruise terminal E at the Adosado dock is expected to be operational by spring. This facility, located next to Terminal D (or Palacruceros), will be one of the largest cruise terminals in Europe, covering more than 12,500 square meters. Carnival Corporation is investing around €30 million in it, as it plans to have seven of its ten cruise lines operate there.
The port put the urbanization of the surrounding area out to tender in the last week of February, with a budget of €4.6 million and a one-year completion timeframe. The project covers 45,000 square meters and includes the creation of spaces for vehicles and passengers, most notably a large 300-space parking lot. The entire area will connect to the other four terminals of the Adosado and will be completed with a roundabout to manage traffic flow.
