The Spanish Ports Authority and other ports of general interest are participating in the Seatrade Cruise Global trade show in Miami, which runs from April 13-16. At the Ports of Spain stand, coordinated by the State Ports Authority and with the presence of its president, Gustavo Santana, 23 Port Authorities are present under the slogan "Make your landing unforgettable," showcasing their latest developments in infrastructure, sustainability, and services for cruise tourism to cruise lines.
The number of cruise passenger movements through Spanish ports in 2025 exceeded 14 million. This positions Spain as one of the world's leading destinations for this type of travel, with a growing diversification of ports of call.
In addition to the working meetings, several presentations will take place at the stand. On Tuesday the 14th, at the Ports of Spain stand, the Port Authority of Santa Cruz de Tenerife will present “Ports, Islands and Communities: Building Destination from the Ports of Tenerife” at 11:30 a.m. Following this, at 12:00 p.m., the Port Authority of Las Palmas will present its proposal for Seatrade Med 2026, with the Port of Las Palmas as the official venue for this leading event for the cruise industry in the Mediterranean and adjacent seas, which takes place in September.
At 12:30 pm, the Port Authority of Seville will unveil “Seville Port Cruise Terminal, a new approach to cruise and megayacht tourism in the heart of Andalusia”, a clear commitment to the city, integration with the province and the passenger experience.
Next, at 13:00h, the Port Authority of Almería will present “Port of Almería, redefining cruise tourism”, the commitment to a more sustainable, responsible and efficient port.
The last presentation of the day, at 3:00 p.m., will be given by the Port Authorities of Ferrol, Seville and Las Palmas, at the Global Ports stand.
The second day, Wednesday the 15th, will begin with a working breakfast (8:00 a.m.) at the Botanical Garden, organized by Tourspain in collaboration with Puertos del Estado (State Ports Authority). Port Authority representatives will meet with the Itinerary Planners from the shipping lines to finalize the 2028 itineraries. The Spanish Tourism Counselor in Miami, Elvira Marcos, and the President of Puertos del Estado will welcome the attendees. Following this, between 9:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m., the Consul General of Spain in Miami, Belén Alfaro, will pay a visit and formal greeting at the Ports of Spain stand.
The presentations will continue at the Ports of Spain stand with the Port of Valencia, which at 11:00 a.m. will unveil its excursion offerings in the province: “Uncover the Charm: Valencia Province at Your Fingertips.” At 12:00 p.m., the Port of A Coruña will present its project for the 2026 tourism event, “Solar Eclipse and Port Calls.” This port city in the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula is positioning itself as one of the best destinations in Europe to observe the total solar eclipse on August 12.
At 13:00h, Puertos del Estado will offer the traditional Institutional Cocktail in the Spanish pavilion with the respective institutional greetings from the authorities present at the stand.
At the same time, the president of State Ports will hold various working meetings with operators and institutional representatives of the sector to find synergies and promote the value of Spanish ports as a strategic stop for cruise tourism, and their commitment to sustainable growth that benefits everyone.
The cruise industry has a significant impact on the Spanish economy and employment. In 2023, it contributed over €3.2 billion to GDP and around 52,000 jobs, according to the 'Study of the Economic Impact of Ports of General Interest on the Spanish Economy as a Whole', prepared by State Ports.
The Spanish Port Authority and the Spanish port system are working to ensure the sustainable growth of this sector by involving shipping companies, the port community, and local institutions. To this end, plans are already underway for decarbonization, electrification of docks to supply ships with electricity from renewable sources, reducing emissions and noise; as well as port-city integration projects, and a commitment to innovative technologies and digitalization to improve the cruise passenger experience and their interaction with the local community.
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