Dedicated cruise sustainability council launches in Barcelona

Covering the environment, mobility and economic-social quality, each unit will have a coordinator and a technical secretary. 

Key objectives 

The council’s main objectives involve reducing negative impacts of cruise operations at the environmental and social level, improving transparency and communication regarding cruise activity at the port, and creating a source to share and coordinate different initiatives by the various institutions belonging to the council.

Strengthening connections between cruise companies and Barcelona's business, training and employment fabric is another key aim, as well as increasing the social and economic benefit of the cruise sector to the city and its hinterland.

Study on cruise F&B supply chain

An early indicator of the council's reach, Carme Poveda, director of Economic Analysis for the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce, has announced a study commissioned by the port, Cruise Lines International Association and Mercabarna, the city's principal food market and distribution centre, on ‘Opportunities for the Catalan agri-food industry in the cruise market.’ 

Council members 

The technical secretariat of the overall council includes Mar Pérez, head of cruise, Barcelona Port Authority and Pep Hurtado from the Strategic Office of the Coastal Area at Barcelona City Council’s municipal management. 

Barcelona City Government’s manager of economic promotion, Miguel Rodriguez Planas, also joins. 

Other entities involved in the council are: Barcelona Port Authority;  Barcelona City Council; Catalunya Regional Government; the Council of Barcelona Province; the Delegation of the Spanish State in Catalunya; CLIA; Barcelona Air Route Development Committee; Barcelona Tourism Office; the Chamber of Commerce; the Foment del Treball association; Pimec association; BCN Open; CCOO union; UGT union; the Metropolitan Taxi Institute; Catalunya Tourism Association (AGUICAT); APIT tourist guide association.

Port of Barcelona 

In the first six months of 2023 the Port of Barcelona handled 1,380,000 cruise passengers. It represents an increase of 8.1% on the 1,276,000 passengers recorded over the same period in 2019, and more than double the 673,000 passengers handled during the first half of 2022.