Luxury cruise ships and large yachts are increasingly choosing the ports of the Costa Brava, generating a significant socio-economic impact of several million euros.
A significant representation of directors and executives from luxury cruise lines and large yacht marinas met yesterday, November 27, 2024, in Sant Feliu de Guixols during an informative day that aimed to report on the progress in terms of social and environmental impact of both segments and clear up any doubts that the public may have about their growth.
Maritime tourism is framed within the so-called Blue Economy, which seeks to promote economic growth, social inclusion and the preservation of marine ecosystems and at the same time, ensure the sustainability of oceans and coastal areas.
In this regard, the cruise sector maintains an unequivocal commitment to compliance with environmental regulations and to supporting sustainability policies and practices.
Beatriz Orejudo, from Lantimar, explained how shipping agents and port agencies manage the provisioning of ships, the unloading of waste or the supply of drinking water, although it was noted that 90% of the water they use is produced on board, through desalination.
Experts such as Giorgio Costa, from Crystal Cruises; Leandro Salustegui, from Regent Seven Seas Cruises; Roel Thierie, from Alma Cruises; and Matteo Busilacchio, from InterCruises Shoreside & Port Services; moderated by Virginia López, from Cruises News Media Group, commented on some of the measures that cruise companies are implementing, such as not using single-use plastics and collecting and sending all recyclable materials for recycling, or that many of the ships, and all those being built, come equipped to be able to connect to electricity in port and turn off their engines.
The socioeconomic impact of cruises in Spain is estimated at €5.67 billion and 42,000 jobs, according to data from CLIA, the industry association. On the Costa Brava, this impact reaches €5.1 million, thanks to the 58 calls by small luxury cruise ships in Palamós and Roses. These calls brought 53,000 passengers, with a very high purchasing power, who took excursions in small groups or privately and enjoyed the local cuisine and shops. A significant development in 2025 will be the arrival of the new Spanish cruise line Alma Cruceros in Sant Carles de la Ràpita.
Carmen Fernandez, a recruiter for shipping companies through Crew MC, the only company specializing in this area in Spain, gave the key points for working on cruise ships, also highlighting that crew members, when they get off the ship in their free time, also generate spending at the destination.
Regarding the panel on the nautical industry and large vessels, the moderator, Eva Miquel, noted that in Spain it generates around 12 billion euros and around 80,000 jobs, if we add up direct, indirect and induced employment.
A panel of experts, including Ignacio Erroz, CEO of Marina Port Vell; Miquel Àngel Lliteras, general manager of Pendennis-Vilanova Grand Marina; Rafael Aznar, advisor to D-Marin and maritime consultant; Maribel Vela, Manager of the Sant Feliu de Guixols Nautical Club; Maria Sennacheribbo, Yachting Department & Itinerary Planning of Lantimar Group; and Jorge Bonal, captain of Port Masnou, discussed the importance of marinas and their services, especially dry dock services for Refit & Repair, as well as the combination of destination and top-level infrastructure that leads large vessels to include a particular point in their itinerary, whether for winter storage or as a stopover in transit.
Sennacheribbo reflected on the role of consignment companies as facilitators for megayachts and the importance of maintaining a proper relationship with each type of client and a broad network of contacts in the province to be able to meet their demands, while Ignacio Erroz highlighted the importance of events such as the America's Cup for large marinas like Marina Port-Vell.
For his part, Aznar gave examples of sustainability and digitalization models in the premium marinas that D-Marin has spread throughout Europe and the Emirates, as well as the characteristics that must be present for a group to decide to invest in one territory or another.
Vela, manager of the Sant Feliu de Guíxols Nautical Club, wanted to highlight the importance of combining integration in the municipality, the social function, blue education and coexistence in the same nautical space of small and medium length with the large vessels, where only in high season and only in Sant Feliu de Guixols more than 50 megayachts.
The day was promoted and organized by Costa Brava Cruise Ports, Costa Brava Cruise Yachts, Ports de la Generalitat, Generalitat de Catalunya, the Costa Brava Girona Tourist Board, Ajuntament de Sant Feliu de Guixols, Ajuntament de Roses, Ajuntament de Palamós, Chamber of Commerce of Girona, Chamber of Commerce of Palamós, AWP Services and Cruises News Media Group.
Inaugurated by Esther Roca i Isart, Director General of Ports of the Generalitat and Joan Plana i Sagué, Vice President of the Costa Brava Girona Tourism Board, it also included the participation of Víctor Goitia, Head of Marketing of the Costa Brava Girona Tourism Board, who commented on the characteristics and sustainability improvements of the Costa Brava destination, and was closed by Carles Motas i López, Mayor of Sant Feliu de Guíxols.
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