The Port of Motril has been preparing throughout the months of the state of emergency to reactivate the cruise season with "the highest safety guarantees" starting September 30th. The Port Authority states that shipping lines and tour operators have valued the marketing initiatives designed to establish itineraries based on environmental balance, the promotion of culture and heritage, avoiding overcrowding, and seeking unique experiences "by leveraging the diverse resources available in the city of Motril, the Costa Tropical, and the province." "The Covid-free terminals and docks project we are developing also pays special attention to cruise passengers, whose safety protocols will be adapted and enhanced as indicated by the shipping lines themselves," stated the Port's president, José García Fuentes.
The typical customer arriving at the Port of Motril belongs to the luxury and premium segment, travels aboard small and medium-sized cruise ships, and spends an average of €63 at the destination, compared to €40 for those visiting other Andalusian ports. These figures are from the 2019 cruise season, which also revealed that nearly 50% of cruise passengers chose to stay in Motril to explore the city and its commercial and cultural center.
"Our philosophy is that the destination, starting with Motril, can benefit from a high-spending passenger who shops, takes exclusive excursions and enjoys the rich gastronomy, but without saturating the city," says Garcia Fuentes.
Monumental Granada
The commercial strategy designed by the Port of Motril for the cruise sector's reactivation continues and is complemented by the resources of the rest of the province, including the Alpujarras region and the historical monuments of the city of Granada. "As a province, we are a very attractive destination for cruise lines and tour operators, given that our richness and variety can cover all demands and satisfy the needs of any type of cruise passenger. We combine historical and cultural heritage, nature, beaches, adventure, and gastronomy, all condensed into a single destination that, in terms of distance, makes it very competitive compared to other ports," stated García Fuentes. It is in this context that Motrilport and the Granada City Council have agreed to implement a joint Action Plan aimed at promoting the city's tourism offerings to visitors arriving through "this maritime gateway to the province of Granada." "An agreement that complements the coastal offering and that of the rest of the province, to make a more attractive and internationally competitive destination, aimed at customers from premium cruise ships.".
Cruise traffic through the Port of Motril will resume on September 30th with the arrival of the Berlin cruise ship, after several months of significant disruption due to COVID-19. As a result of the pandemic, all cruise lines were forced to cancel their port calls from the end of March until August. The port authorities hope that the health situation will soon return to normal and that this activity, which provides undeniable benefits to the destination and generates opportunities for entrepreneurship and employment, can resume safely.
