The Rosalía de Castro Theatre in A Coruña will host the Excellence Cruise Awards ceremony tomorrow, Thursday, which has been awarded since 2008 by Cruises News Media Group, a company specializing in the international promotion of the cruise sector.
The Port of A Coruña is the first in Galicia and along the entire Cantabrian-Atlantic coast to host this gala, whose previous editions were held in cities with significant activity in the sector. The ceremony will bring together leading representatives of the cruise industry, from shipping company executives from various European countries to tour operators, shipping agents, port authorities, tourism management entities, travel agencies, as well as members of the port community and representatives from the city's economic and social sectors. Authorities and representatives from the main institutions of the autonomous community will also be in attendance. Approximately 250 people are expected to attend.
The selection of A Coruña as host of the Excellence Awards underscores its leading position in northern Spain, both in terms of passenger numbers and port calls, which this year will exceed 120, with an estimated 180,000 cruise passengers. This surpasses the figures from 2017, when A Coruña achieved a record for this sector. These results come after a decade of spectacular growth stemming from the Port Authority's commitment to positioning a city that possesses all the necessary qualities to become one of the most attractive destinations on the Atlantic coast. In the last ten years, passenger numbers have risen from just over 54,000 in 2009 to an estimated 180,000 this year, representing growth of more than 200%. This historic increase has had a strong impact not only on the international promotion of the city of A Coruña as a tourist destination, but also economically for the service sector, which is estimated at more than 15 million euros per year, counting only the direct impact.
These benefits are highly valued by the residents of A Coruña. According to the latest opinion polls, 94% of citizens positively assess the effects of cruise ship calls. Of particular note is the fact that 87% of passengers choose to stay in A Coruña during the ship's visit, which has a positive impact on the hospitality, retail, transportation, and other sectors of the economy.
With the Excellence Awards, Spain's leading company in national and international promotion, communication, and marketing for the cruise sector recognizes the work of the various professionals and companies involved in this industry based on passenger votes. The fifteen award categories include best Spanish port, best crew, best cruise lines, entertainment options, ships, and itineraries. Awards are also given for culinary offerings, brand image, and travel agencies.
The Gala is organized by Cruises News Media Group, with the collaboration of the Port Authority of A Coruña, the Xunta de Galicia and the City Council of A Coruña, as well as Puertos del Estado, MEGA, Corunna Cruise Terminal, Gadis, Marítima Consiflet, Bergé, Cruises Atlantic Islands and crucerisimo.com.
