The Port Authority of Castellón and the PortCastelló have held the III Conference on Cruises and Recreational Boating, an event that is consolidating itself as a reference forum to analyze the opportunities offered by both sectors within the blue economy and their impact on the economic, social and territorial development of Castellón.
Under the slogan “Recreational boating as an economic, social, and territorial driver,” the event brought together more than one 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 international positioning of the region.
The president of the Port Authority of Castellón, Rubén Ibáñez, inaugurated the event and highlighted PortCastelló's capacity to continue growing and diversifying its activities. "Recreational boating and cruises are also part of the present and future of the Port of Castellón," he noted. He also emphasized the port's progress in the cruise sector: "In 2023, we started with zero cruises, and we will close 2026 and 2027 with a total of 24 scheduled port calls.".
Ibáñez also emphasized the significant potential of cruises and recreational boating in Castellón and reaffirmed the Port Authority's commitment to fostering new opportunities in this sector. In this regard, he expressed particular gratitude for the support of Virginia López, CEO of Cruises News Media Group, and Eva Miquel, Director of Bespoke PR & Communication Strategies, for their early commitment to developing Castellón as a maritime tourism destination.
The first panel discussion of the day focused on the evolution of the cruise industry and its capacity to generate economic impact and boost tourism 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 shifted to the recreational boating sector, analyzing the opportunities for growth, innovation, and job creation that this industry offers to the region. The panel, moderated by Eva Miquel, brought together representatives from organizations and companies linked to the nautical sector, shipyards, and marinas.
The day also included several technical presentations, among them a talk by Ernesto Monteiro, director of ITM Port Melilla, on cruise terminals in transit ports, as well as a presentation by the Director General of Coasts and Ports, Marc García, who addressed the current situation and new developments in the regional ports. The closing remarks were delivered by the Councilor for Tourism of Castellón, Arantxa Miralles.
During the meeting, it was highlighted how maritime tourism has become one of the fastest-growing segments within the international tourism industry. While cruises generate a significant flow of visitors and economic activity, recreational boating helps position destinations as exclusive, sustainable, and high-value-added spaces.
The event also served to strengthen public-private collaboration and consolidate Castellón's strategy to gain prominence within the international map of maritime tourism.
The event was made possible through the collaboration of the Castellón Provincial Council, the Castellón City Council, Cruises News Media Group, Bespoke SF, Simetría Grupo and Greenwich 2023 Shipyard.
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