On October 29, 2024, the “1st Meeting for the Sustainability of Cruise Activity in Lisbon” took place at the Lisbon Cruise Terminal, with the participation of 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.
Key moments of this initiative included:
- Signing a memorandum of understanding to create an advisory committee aimed at mitigating the sustainability impacts of cruise activity;
- Presenting the results of air quality monitoring;
- Presenting an economic impact study on the cruise industry in Lisbon
In 2023, the cruise sector generated in Lisbon:
- €1.934 billion in increased production (economic activity);
- €794 million in value-added for the local economy (GDP);
- €317 million in taxes;
- 20,383 jobs created.
- Each cruise ship contributes €2.29 million to Lisbon’s GDP, creates 59 jobs, and generates €0.91 million in tax revenue.
- Each Euro spent by cruise passengers in Lisbon generates up to €3.57 of total production in the economy.
The “Air Quality Monitoring in the Surrounding Area of the Lisbon Cruise Terminal” study was also presented, evaluating ship emissions in cruise ship catchment areas over one year. The results indicate that, despite occasional exceedances of WHO guideline values for fine particles and nitrogen dioxide, pollution levels in Lisbon remained within European and national legal limits.
