Stakeholders focus on delivering sustainable cruise activity in Lisbon

October 29, 2024, saw a meeting of representatives from the Port of Lisbon, Lisbon Municipality, Cruise Line International Association, Lisbon Tourism Board, National Tourism Board, ANA Airports, TAP Air Portugal, AGEPOR (National Port Agent Association), Zero Association (environmental NGO), and Lisbon Cruise Port.

Dubbed the 1st Meeting for the Sustainability of Cruise Activity in Lisbon, participants signed an MoU to create an advisory committee aimed at mitigating the sustainability impacts of cruise activity.

Presented at the meeting alongside the river Tagus, were the results of air quality monitoring and an economic impact study on cruise activity in Lisbon.

Economic impact

In 2023, cruising generated €1.934bn in economic activity, created €794m to the city’s GDP and created 20,383 jobs.

Last year, MedCruise and Cruise Europe member Lisbon, welcomed 347 ships of which over 100 were turnaround calls. Each ship generates €0.91m in tax revenue and each Euro spent by cruise passengers in Lisbon generates up to €3.57 of total production in the economy, according to the latest numbers.

Air quality monitoring

An air quality monitoring study conducted in the area surrounding Lisbon Cruise Terminal for one year and evaluating emissions from cruise ships indicated despite ocassional exceeding of WHO (World Health Organization) guidelines for fine particles and nitrogen dioxide, air pollution levels in Lisbon remained within European and national legal limits.

A record cruise season in 2023

Lisbon welcomed 758,328 cruise passengers in 2023 – a record, with turnarounds accounting for 102,680 embarking and 101,324 disembarking, an increase of 131% compared to the previous year.