The Castellón Port Authority and the PortCastelló have held the Third Conference on Cruises and Recreational Boating, an event that has established itself as a leading forum for analyzing the opportunities offered by both sectors within the blue economy and their impact on the economic, social, and territorial development of Castellón.
Under the theme “Recreational boating as an economic, social, and regional driver,” the conference brought together more than a hundred professionals, institutional representatives, and experts from the port and tourism sectors. The event highlighted the potential of maritime tourism as a tool for economic diversification and the region’s international positioning.
Rubén Ibáñez, president of the Castellón Port Authority, opened the event and highlighted PortCastelló’s capacity to continue growing and diversifying its operations. “Recreational boating and cruise ships are also part of the present and future of the Port of Castellón,” he noted. He also highlighted the port’s progress in the cruise sector: “In 2023, we started with zero cruise ships, and we will close out 2026 and 2027 with a total of 24 scheduled port calls.”
Ibáñez also highlighted the vast potential that cruise tourism and recreational boating still hold in Castellón and reaffirmed the Port Authority’s commitment to promoting new opportunities in this sector. In this regard, he expressed special thanks to Virginia López, CEO of Cruises News Media Group, and Eva Miquel, director of Bespoke PR & Communication Strategies, for their support from the very beginning in developing Castellón as a maritime tourism destination.
The first panel discussion of the day focused on the evolution of the cruise industry and its ability to generate economic impact and revitalize tourist destinations. Moderated by Virginia López, it featured representatives from leading companies and operators in the sector, such as MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean International, Virgin Voyages, and Noatum Cruise Services, among others.
The discussion then turned to the recreational boating sector, examining the opportunities for growth, innovation, and job creation that this industry offers the region. The panel, moderated by Eva Miquel, brought together representatives from organizations and companies linked to the nautical sector, shipyards, and marinas.
The event also featured several technical presentations, including a talk by Ernesto Monteiro, director of ITM Port Melilla, on cruise terminals in transit ports, as well as a presentation by Marc García, director general of Costas y Puertos, who discussed the current situation and recent developments at regional ports. The institutional closing remarks were delivered by Arantxa Miralles, Castellón’s councilor for tourism.
During the meeting, it became clear that maritime tourism has become one of the most promising segments within the international tourism industry. While cruises generate a significant influx of visitors and economic activity, recreational boating helps position destinations as exclusive, sustainable, and high-value-added destinations.
The event also served to strengthen public-private partnerships and consolidate Castellón's strategy to gain prominence on the international maritime tourism scene.
The event was organized in collaboration with the Castellón Provincial Council, the Castellón City Council, Cruises News Media Group, Bespoke SF, Simetría Grupo, and Greenwich 2023 Shipyard.
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