According to the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), the capacity of the cruise sector in Spain could reach the level of 2019, in which its turnover was almost 6 billion euros, contributing to the country’s GDP in the amount of 2.8 billion euros.
The volume of cruises planned for this fiscal year in Spain, where the mid-season is just beginning, will be close to the year before the start of the pandemic.
Spain is considered one of the leading countries in the world in terms of the number of arriving cruise passengers. The record reached in 2018 with over 10.1 million incoming cruise passengers and 4,360 cruise ships was surpassed in 2019 with a 4.8% increase to over 10.6 million cruise passengers.
These figures make Spain the second European country in terms of cruise passengers, placing several Spanish ports in the top European rankings, with Barcelona topping the list of top ports in the world, followed by those of the Balearic and Canary Islands.
CLIA Spain Director Alfredo Serrano says this is “very good news as it is not only a recognition of the attractiveness of our country and the many options offered by our destinations, but also another step towards consolidating the recovery; an economic stimulus for many coastal areas that hit hard by the paralysis of tourism.”
The association noted that the prospects for the cruise sector in Spain this year are very positive and that the industry is making an important economic contribution to the development of the cities in which it develops.
For every 24 cruise passengers, the equivalent of one full-time job is created. In addition, on average, each cruise passenger spends 660 euros on the places they visit during a seven-day cruise.
On the demand side, recent research by CLIA across eight markets in Europe, North America and Australia indicates that around 90% of surveyed cruisers in Spain are likely to cruise in the next few years. In addition, about 90% of non-cruisers surveyed in Spain are ready to go on a cruise in the next few years.
The cruise industry has implemented strict health protocols to mitigate the effects of COVID-19. This decision, according to CLIA, is highly appreciated by users who rate “very positively” the measures taken by the industry to return to normal levels in a responsible and sustainable manner.
Over 550,000 Spanish cruise passengers
On the other hand, data from the Association shows that more than 550,000 Spanish travelers chose cruise as their holiday option in 2019, placing Spain fourth in Europe in terms of cruise market size.
In terms of economic contribution, CLIA has estimated that the industry has created more than 50,000 jobs and generated a turnover of nearly 6 billion euros.
Since the start of tourism recovery after the worst phase of the pandemic, more than six million customers have already taken cruise trips.
Nearly 100% of the vessels in the CLIA fleet are expected to be operational this August, with 2022 set to be a “vital” year to restore pre-pandemic passenger traffic (over 29 million) in 2023.