Costa Brava cruise ports expect 45% more passengers in 2014

The cruise ports of Roses and Palamós have ended the season with a record 31,000 passengers and forecast a further 45% increase in passenger numbers next year.

This is great news for the towns as the Palamós tourist office says that three-quarters of all cruise passengers stay in the town, bringing in much needed revenues to local businesses. Spending was around €2.1 million during 2013 and is expected to grow to around €3 million. Roses will see a jump from five cruises to nineteen, while numbers in Palamós will increase due mainly to larger cruise ships visiting the port with more passengers.

As well as spending money in the port towns themselves, destinations popular among cruise passengers include the Girona’s jewish quarter and the Dalí museum in Figueres.

While personally I’d hate to go on a cruise, it is a good move for the Costa Brava to move away from beach tourism that is so much its focus and try and extend the season, much in the way that Barcelona has become a year round destination, and should provide a boost to the local economies.

Source: Emporda.info

Tags: Cruises, Palamos, Roses, socialmedia, Tourism