The Balearic Islands attends the Miami international cruise fair as a leading destination
Palma de Mallorca
10/03/2014
The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) heads the Balearic expedition to Cruise Shipping Miami, the leading international cruise shipping trade show, held in the North American city from 10th to 13th March. The Balearic Islands visits Miami as Spain’s second most important cruise destination. It also ranks fourth in the Mediterranean, and twelfth in the world.
The APB, and a large number of shipping agents from the islands, will also be joined by the Balearic Islands Government, represented by the Balearic Islands Tourism Agency (ATB) and the Directorate-General of Ports and Airports, and the town councils of Mahon and Alcudia.
The APB has one of the most important stands within the State-owned Ports Body exhibition area at the show. At Cruise Shipping Miami, the APB’s aim is to continue to boost and market its ports for the 2015-2016 cruise season. “In Miami, our objective is to promote Mahon, Ibiza, and Alcudia as new destinations, and consolidate the Port of Palma, so that cruise ships continue to call at the port as they do now”, pointed out the APB Chairman, Alberto Pons.
In 2013, over 1.5 million cruise passengers visited the APB’s ports on 699 calls, which represents an 11% rise over 2012. In terms of individual ports, the Port of Palma was visited by over 1.2 million passengers, which represented a 27% increase compared to the previous season. However, it was the Port of Mahon, with a 78% increase and almost 96,000 visitors, which accounted for the largest rise in cruise traffic.
The Balearic Islands’ ports expect to welcome around 1.6 million cruise passengers on over 700 calls in 2014.
