Castellón, a ‘slow tourism’ cruise destination to be discovered.
On 19 September 2024, the first edition of the Conference on the Economic-Social Impact and the Blue Economy in the field of cruises and recreational boating was held in Castellón. The event, organised by the PortCastelló Foundation in collaboration with the Port Authority of Castellón, CruisesNews Media Group and aWp Services, stood out for its successful participation and its practical and didactic focus on two key sectors for the economic and tourism development of the province.
Rubén Ibáñez Bordonau, president of the Port Authority of Castellón, inaugurated the meeting by underlining the port’s potential as a “port of opportunities”. In his speech, he emphasised Castellón’s capacity to attract tourism by sea and announced a second edition of the event for 2025. ‘We are a port of opportunities and we have the obligation to bring and attract tourism to the province of Castellón also by sea’, said Ibáñez, emphasising the tourist wealth and uniqueness of the province, which offers a unique blend of sea, mountains, culture, traditions and exceptional gastronomy.
Cruises: sustainability and expansion
The initial presentations offered a comprehensive view of the economic impact and operational relevance of ports in the context of cruise and leisure shipping. The role of A Coruña was highlighted with the intervention of Juan Diego Pérez Freire, General Manager of the Port Authority of A Coruña, with his speech on the consolidated model of a port of call, where he underlined the strategic importance of the port in the local economy, as well as its consolidation as one of the main cruise destinations in the Atlantic. Marta Rodríguez Pinzas, General Manager of Noatum Cruise Services, gave a presentation on consignment and port agency in which she explained the challenges and solutions in the logistics and environmental management of cruise ships, emphasising the importance of local operations to guarantee an efficient and sustainable service.
The conference brought together leading experts from the cruise industry, who discussed the advances in sustainability and the emerging opportunities for smaller ports such as Castellón. At the first round table ( moderated by Virginia López Valiente of CruisesNews Media Group), representatives from companies such as Crystal Cruises, Explora Journeys and Alma Cruceros, along with tour operators such as Intercruises Shoreside & Port Services and BC Agency, debated the growing demand for less exploited destinations and the importance of offering unique experiences to an increasingly demanding public. As highlighted, Castellón has the opportunity to position itself as an attractive destination for cruise ships, especially at a time when shipping companies are looking for diversification in their itineraries.
In addition, key aspects of the social impact of this industry were addressed, such as job opportunities on board cruise ships. Carmen Fernández Alonso, CEO of Crew Management and Consulting, highlighted the employment potential for Spaniards in this sector, which reinforces the positive economic impact of cruises in the region.
Recreational boating: a growing sector
Regarding recreational boating, Carlos San Lorenzo Ferri, Secretary General of ANEN, presented data confirming the growth of this sector in Spain, with the issuance of a high number of new skipper licenses since the pandemic. This growth has boosted economic development in the cities that host this type of tourism, offering new opportunities at both the industrial and tourist level.
The second round table, moderated by Eva Miquel Subías of aWp Services, brought together professionals from renowned marinas and yacht clubs, who highlighted the impact of the sector on the local industrial fabric. The ‘refit and repair’, together with the growing trend of chartering, have become engines of economic dynamisation, creating new professions linked to the auxiliary industry. In this regard, we were able to hear some success stories from the hand of Nicolás González Mira, General Manager at Sant Carles Marina; Maribel Vela Micheo, General Manager at Club Naútico Sant Feliu de Guíxols, Rafael Aznar Alonso, General Manager at D-Marin España, or Miquel Àngel Lliteras Fleixas, Manager at Pendennis – Vilanova Grand Marina.
Conclusion and future
The event concluded with speeches by Arantxa Miralles Benages, Councillor for Tourism of the Castellón
City Council, who highlighted the importance of the blue economy as a fundamental pillar for the future development of the region. For his part, Israel Martínez Fernández, Director General of Tourism of the Generalitat Valenciana, highlighted the hospitality and warmth of our province, pointing out that it is a destination where tourism is welcomed in an open and positive way.
The conference, driven by the collaboration between public and private institutions, marked a milestone in the promotion of maritime tourism and the blue economy in Castellón. With a view to 2025, the region is positioning itself as an emerging benchmark in both sectors, with a clear commitment to sustainability and job creation.
This first edition has shown that both cruise tourism and recreational boating represent key opportunities for the economic and social development of Castellón, opening up new ways to attract quality and sustainable tourism.
