Opinion piece
Eva Miquel Subías
Managing Partner at aWp Services, Head of the Cruise and Sports Boating section of Gente Viajera on Ondacero
Article from CruisesNews magazine no. 60 – March 2022
Cruise ship tourism in Spain
With the outbreak of the pandemic on the international stage, we were able to see firsthand how the cruise industry - one of the fundamental pillars of the tourism sector - was neglected by many institutions and ignored by those agents who should have protected it the most.
In Spain, thanks to the evolution over the last 25 years due to the support of ports and cities and, of course, shipping companies, which have opted for the enclaves in our territory equipped with excellent port infrastructure and tremendously attractive destinations, the passenger has embarked with ever greater interest, with greater knowledge and demanding increasingly ambitious proposals.
But they continue to face even more demanding challenges. And while the vast majority of shipping companies have spent years striving to be a step ahead in terms of sustainability and digitalization, adapting to the idiosyncrasies of each territory, and scrupulously complying with each of the numerous regulations they must adhere to, something new has emerged that could disrupt the established order.
For months, we watched crews stranded around the world, trapped on ships denied disembarkation. Heartbreaking images that will remain vividly and indelibly etched in the memories of many. They adapted to new protocols and continued investing, despite daily losses due to inactivity, striving to offer a quality product and implementing protocols they knew were more flexible in other sectors. They also watched as other tourists arrived by different means, avoiding the controls imposed on cruise ships and unable to enjoy shore excursions with the same freedom as other tourists who had chosen to visit the destination in other ways.
In its recent report, CLIA noted that by 2027, its members' ocean fleet will include 26 LNG-powered vessels, 174 vessels will be ready to connect to the electrical grid, and more than 80% of global capacity will have advanced wastewater treatment systems.
It is also worth remembering, as the report also points out, that for every 24 cruise passengers, one full-time job is created, that the average expenditure of each passenger is $750 in the destinations they visit during a 7-day cruise, and that 6 out of 10 passengers return to the destinations they have obviously visited by ship.
Spain, where the cruise sector has employed over 30,000 people and generated an economic impact of €1.3 billion (reaching over €4.3 billion when indirect and induced effects are included), was one of the countries where obtaining authorization to resume docking was most difficult as the pandemic began to subside. This was due to cumbersome bureaucratic processes involving various competent institutions, which offered little assistance. We do not know if the relevant authorities have taken note of these issues and will expedite the processes in the future to protect this vital sector of tourism, which represents an undeniable source of income for our country.
Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, we are once again facing a scenario of uncertainty, beyond the human drama of a war scenario that will put the geostrategic framework at stake and where countries, especially those belonging to the Western axis, will have to give their best to achieve economic stability and where human rights are above unilateral decisions that put world peace at risk.
