ARCHIVED - First post-pandemic cruise ships could return to Cartagena in June
Small groups of visitors to be welcomed in museums but not permitted to visit shops and bars
It has been announced that cruise ship tourism in the city of Cartagena is due to start again during June, when the first ship is scheduled to reach the port since the outbreak of the Covid pandemic, marking the first timid step towards reactivation of a sector which until early last year frequently saw the streets, bars and shops of the city centre teeming with tourists.
However, the cruise ship visitors will be welcomed in very different conditions from those which existed before tourism ground to a halt across Europe last year, and small groups will be shepherded directly to museums and other venues without being able to enjoy the bars, cafés and shopping opportunities in which they previously spent their money: this is in order to protect both residents and visitors from the possibility of contagion, according to Deputy Mayoress Noelia Arroyo.
As such, the visitors will bring no boost to small businesses in the area, after in 2020 it is estimated that as much as 8.1 million euros of revenue from cruise ship visitor spending was lost to the pandemic.
There are hopes that the restrictions may be eased later in the year if the pandemic situation allows it, although it is highly likely that the boats will be restricted to Spanish ports only.
Last year it was expected that 232,000 people would dock in the port on over 150 cruise liners, and now Cartagena is among the ports at which it has been decided that such visits will be allowed again as of June, although the exact date of the first arrival is not yet known. Protocols have been put to the test in the Canaries, including the performing of Covid antigen tests on all passengers and reduced passenger numbers.