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Date Published: 17/11/2023
Alicante eyes a record-breaking 2024 with more than 300,000 cruise passengers expected to dock
Alicante city’s port will welcome some 100 luxury liners next year, a 35% increase compared to 2023
The city of Alicante has set "spectacular forecasts" for the cruise ship industry next year and the authorities plan to break records for both the amount of passengers visiting the region and the number of ships that will dock.
With the calendar already filling up, more than 100 cruise ships have booked their berths and on board, around 300,000 passengers will land in Alicante, an increase of 35% compared to last year.
This boon for the tourism industry was confirmed on Thursday November 16 by the mayor of Alicante, Luis Barcala, during the closing of the VI Alicante Costa Blanca Tourism and Cruises Conference, which was held at the Castle of Santa Bárbara.
"Cruises create wealth and employment, while helping to de-seasonalise tourism in the city," Mr Barcala said. If so far this year cruise tourism has generated 40 million euros for the local economy, he added, there’s no reason why that figure shouldn’t exceed 70 million in 2024.
These impressive forecasts come as a result of the collaboration between the City Council, the Port Authority, the Costa Blanca Provincial Board and the Costa Blanca Association for Cruise Tourism to push Alicante as an attractive stopover option for luxury liners as well as a base port.
This message wasn’t lost on the general director of MSC Cruises, Fernando Pacheco, who explained that “Alicante has all the ingredients for a company like ours to want to come and plan to grow here despite geopolitical situations that unfortunately cut businesses and lives short."
MSC Cruises was forced to restructure its routes for the winter campaign as a result of the Israeli conflict.
In other news: Orihuela Costa beach bars to reopen at Easter
Image: Alicante Port Authority
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