Barcelona is again the leading cruise port in the Mediterranean. The number of passengers expected in the Spanish port this year has increased by 7%.
The Spanish port of Barcelona confirms its leading position among the Mediterranean cruise ports. According to the Port Authority, 2.5 million passengers are expected in 2011. The number represents an increase of 7% over 2010 when the passenger flow generated EUR 258 million revenue for the Catalan capital, reported Econostrum.info.
More than half of the cruisers (55%) who board or disembark at the port of Barcelona travel on regular routes to other Mediterranean ports. It is this group of tourists who spend the most; their average budget is EUR 125 per day per person.
Generally, passengers arriving to Barcelona spend on average EUR 95 per day per person. The port has welcomed increasing number of European cruise passengers compared to the previous years. One fifth of the Europeans are British travelers. The next biggest group of passengers are Americans.
When presenting the final report, the Port Authority did not fail to emphasize the significant investments that were made to make Barcelona the first cruise port in the Mediterranean. A total of EUR 102 million from public and private sources were spent over the last decade to improve the services and reception of passengers as well as to rebuild the docks. In 2010, thanks to these investments, Barcelona was able to receive three largest cruise ships in the world – Liberty of the Seas, Norwegian Epic and Carnival Magic.
