Barcelona, one of Europe’s most visited cities, is preparing for a significant increase in cruise tourism in 2023. The city is expected to receive around 900 cruise ships during the year, which represents a considerable increase compared to the 810 cruise ships that docked in 2022.
This growth in cruise tourism poses both opportunities and challenges for the City of Barcelona.
The Port of Barcelona has experienced a steady growth in cruise traffic over the last two decades, doubling the number of tourist ships arriving in the city.
This growth shows no signs of slowing down, as in the first months of 2023, Barcelona has received approximately 200 cruise ships.
This trend is expected to continue throughout the year, with a total of some 900 cruise ships arriving in the city.
Around 900 cruise ships with tourists in 2023
The recovery of the cruise sector in Barcelona has been remarkable, with figures exceeding those of before the pandemic.
Between January and March 2023, the city received 149 cruise ships and approximately 80 cruise ships are expected to arrive in April.
Projections for the following months are also promising, with 99 cruises expected in May and 91 in June.
During the high season, which runs from May to October, it is estimated that Barcelona could receive up to 602 cruise ships.
Travelers’ expenses
According to a study conducted by the University of Barcelona in collaboration with the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), the average expenditure of a cruise passenger in Barcelona is 230 euros per person per day.
However, the Stop Creuers association argues that the economic benefits generated by cruise passengers are not distributed equally throughout the city.
In fact, the most exclusive areas of Barcelona are the ones that mainly benefit from tourist spending, while 60% of travelers only stay in the city for a few hours.
Cruise ships and environmental problems
Although cruise passengers accounted for almost 20% of the 9.7 million tourists visiting Barcelona in 2022, the arrival of these ships with thousands of passengers also poses serious environmental problems.
A single cruise ship can pollute as much as 12,000 cars, contributing to growing concerns about air quality in the city.
In fact, a 2019 study by the NGO Transports and Environment revealed that Barcelona was the European city most polluted by cruise ships. It led in sulfur oxide and nitrogen oxide emissions, two highly polluting gases.
As cruise tourism continues to grow in Barcelona, the city faces the challenge of balancing economic benefits with environmental concerns and the equitable distribution of wealth generated by tourists to the city.
