24 DIARIO DEL PUERTO MIÉRCOLES 10 SEPTIEMBRE 2025 sales increases of over 10% and a very good forecast for the last places for the summer and for thewinter season, which begins in September and ends with the markets, New Year’s Eve, and Christmas. According to our data, the trendshouldcontinue.” “2025 is shaping up to be a year of solidgrowth for the cruise industry, and we are proud to be part of this expansion in Spain. This year, we are increasing our stopovers in the countryby28%compared to2024and will operate from a total of nine ports of embarkation,” said the general manager of MSC Cruises in Spain. Challenges With traffic consolidating and increasing, the sector must also address the challenges facing the industry, which are not easy to tackle because, as Serrano points out, “our sector has adual soul, linking it to both maritime transport and the tourism industry. Hence, its challenges are not unique, but are aligned with the challenges facing both industries.” Therefore, on the one hand, they must find solutions to decarbonize maritime transport and, on the other, they must reconcile destination and economic activity. “Cruise lines—which are seeking to achieve net zero emissions by 2050—are exploring multiple avenues and investing heavily in innovation, adopting the latest solutions and technologies available,” acknowledges the CLIA’s CEO, “and the results of these advances are already a reality. In 2019, 74% of the fuel used by cruise shipswasHeavy Fuel Oil (HFO), while 25% was Marine Gas Oil (MGO). Since then, the use of HFO has been reduced by 30%. By the end of 2023, more than 35% of the fuel used on board wasMarine Diesel Oil (MDO) or MGO and 6%was Light Fuel Oil (LFO), LNG, and other alternative fuels.” Beyond continuing to improve energy efficiency, Serrano believes that one of the levers for reducing emissions that is absolutely necessary will be “to continue developing the supply of alternative fuels and ensuring their availability on a large scale, as well as promoting infrastructure on land.” This is where the installation of OPS in ports comes in. “Atpresent,more than 50% of the fleet is already equipped to connect to the electricity grid, but the other side of thecoin is theports: onlyaround muy bien. Tenemos aumentos de ventas por encima del 10% y con unaprevisiónmuybuenapara las últimas plazas del verano y para la temporada de invierno que empieza en septiembre y termina con losmercadillos, fin de año yNavidad. Según nuestros datos latendenciadeberíaconfirmarse”. Los destinos deben tomar la iniciativa y liderar el diálogo Eldeseoporviajarydescubrirnuevos lugaresnoesunamodapasajerasinouna realidadque cobra cada vezmás pesoyque debe ser gestionada. Así lo augura AlfredoSerrano, directordeCLIAenEspaña, aDiariodelPuertoPublicaciones, quienseñalaquelosindicadorescomoelnúmerodevisitantes, laduracióndesu estanciaoelgastomedio“yanoessuficienteparaevaluarelcomportamientode la industria, cuyoéxitoestarávinculado, entreotros aspectos, a laapuestapor unmodeloque satisfaga lasnecesidades de residentes yvisitantes”. Para ello, añade Serrano, “es crítico que los destinos – quienesmejor conocen las particularidades de su territorio y tienen la potestad para ello – tomen la iniciativa y lideren un diálogo serio y riguroso entre todos los actores involucrados que confluya en la definición de planes estratégicos de holísticos y largoplacistas”. Porqueel sectorde loscruceros “estarásiempredispuestoatrabajarconlos destinos en la puesta enmarcha de prácticas de turismo sostenible”, subraya el directivodeCLIA. Destinations must take the initiative and lead the dialogue Thedesiretotravelanddiscovernewplaces isnotapassingfadbutarealitythat isbecomingincreasinglyimportantandmustbemanaged.This istheprediction ofAlfredoSerrano, directorofCLIAinSpain, inDiariodelPuertoPublicaciones, whopointsout that indicatorssuchasthenumberofvisitors, the lengthof their stay, oraveragespending“arenolongersufficienttoevaluatetheperformanceof theindustry,whosesuccesswillbelinked, amongotherfactors, toacommitment toamodel thatmeets theneeds of residents andvisitors.” To this end, Serranoadds, “it is critical that destinations—whichknowthe particularities of their territory best and have the power to do so—take the initiativeand leadaseriousandrigorousdialogueamongall stakeholders that converges on the definition of holistic and long-termstrategic plans.” Because the cruise industry “will always be willing to work with destinations to implement sustainable tourismpractices,” stresses the CLIA executive. Los puertos trabajan en colaboración con las ciudades para que el tráfico de cruceros sea sostenible. / Ports are working in collaboration with cities to make cruise traffic sustainable. Fernando Pacheco (MSC Cruises in Spain): “We are recording an increase of close to 10%; everything indicates that this year we will reach almost 400,000 passengers.”
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