Alan Lam reporting
Spain’s Tarragona Cruise Port Costa Daurada has just ended the current season with an 83% growth in passenger number over the previous year.
The port is reaping the benefit of the commercial strategy initiated three years ago and, according to the port management, “is consolidating its position as an exclusive international cruise ship destination in the Mediterranean.”
A total of eleven cruise ships have moored at the cruise terminal in the Port of Tarragona, located on the Llevant Wharf during 2015, bring with them 11,600 passengers. The forecast for 2016 is even higher.
This development is consistent with the trend in a number of smaller Spanish cruise ports. Thanks to tireless promotion efforts, cruise lines and their guests are becoming more aware of the potentials of these ports.
The port targets premium cruise lines, or medium-sized cruise ships of about 2,500 passengers, the segment it considers to be best suited the current positioning of Tarragona in the cruise industry.
At present the facilities of Marina Port Tarraco, situated on the port promenade of Tarragona, are used to accommodate cruise vessels of less than 140 metres long. Ships of greater draft berth at the cruise terminal on the Llevant wharf. Responding to the future needs of cruise lines, in relation to the predicted volume of passengers, the port is considering the option of taking advantage of the construction of a new, multi-functional esplanade on the Prats wharf, with a view of using it exclusively for cruise ships in the future.
There are a number of attractions in Tarragona that draw cruise tourism, including UNESCO World Heritage sites, which are too often overlooked; chiefly among them are the remains of the old Roman Tarraco, listed as Site of Exceptional Universal Value, and the Monastery of Poblet.
“Cruise passengers are able to visit the wide cultural offer in our area,” said Alba Colet, Cruise Manager, “Tarragona is a destination where all the virtues of the Mediterranean way of life converge; ancient and modern exist in total harmony.” Indeed besides its proximity to Barcelona, Tarragona has a wide range of attraction of its own,
In 2015, about 42% cruise passengers arriving in Tarragona were British, 18% French and 15% Italian. Interestingly, Australians and North American each represented 6% of the total passenger throughput. The total economic impact of cruises on the area in 2015 has been calculated at around €719,000.
