Barcelona, a Leader Destination in Cruise-passenger Tourism: Keys, Impacts and Facts

Abstract

The aim of this research is to estimate the economic and social impacts of cruise tourism. For it, the work paper explores the boom in cruise-passenger tourism in the city of Barcelona in recent decades. After many years as a marginal source of tourism activity, cruise ships have become one of the symbols of the city’s tourism development, especially since the 1992 Olympic Games. The cooperation between public and private institutions has been a key factor. The study reported here included a survey made to local residents in order to estimate the social and economic impact of cruise ship tourism. Therefore, this article examines the combination of appropriate collaboration between public and private institutions, the appropriate promotional efforts of the Barcelona Tourism consortium, and the ongoing investments made in recent years to improve the city’s urban and cruise-port infrastructure. These were the fundamental elements in the spectacular surge in this type of tourism, which has positioned Barcelona as a world leader in this sector. Finally, the study shows how residents also reported the positive impact of cruisers and their passengers, wich is very important for drafting the strategic direction for cruise tourism development already under way in Barcelona.

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