Cruise Lines Association ‘In Talks’ To Reopen Malaga And Barcelona Ports

Cruise Lines Association 'In Talks' To Reopen Malaga And Barcelona Ports

Cruise Lines Association 'In Talks' To Reopen Malaga And Barcelona Ports. image: Wikimedia

Cruise Lines Association ‘In Talks’ With Spanish Government To Reopen Malaga, Palma de Mallorca And Barcelona Ports.

The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), is currently negotiating with the Government a possible opening of these ports in a bid to open up the Spanish tourism sector.

The situation in the Spanish tourism sector is becoming more and more critical. The coronavirus pandemic has greatly subdued the activity of tourism companies after the ban imposed by the Government on cruise ships docking in Spanish ports ruined their competitiveness in the international market.

Faced with this situation, Puertos del Estado has intensified its conversations with the Government in order to speed up opening the ports in time for the summer campaign.

In 2019, the cruise industry had a turnover in Spain of about 6,000 million euros, which contributes 2,800 million euros to the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP). It is estimated that 50,031 jobs were created in Spain thanks to the cruise industry and 1,500 million euros in salaries were generated.

Cruise liners carrying thousands of passengers regularly stop off at ports in the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands, Barcelona and Malaga, but were prohibited when Spain went into lockdown on March 14 2020.

With their crowds of often elderly passengers, cruise ships have been especially vulnerable to outbreaks of the virus and have been barred from disembarking in several countries.

Spain’s ban on the vessels will continue until the novel coronavirus epidemic is brought under control, according to the Official State Gazette, even as the country otherwise reopens to tourists in an effort to revive an industry hammered by the coronavirus lockdown.

The retention of the ban was described as a “proportionate, objective and non-discriminatory measure that is in line with the objective set by the WHO Emergency Committee to stop the spread of the virus,” the order said, referring to the World Health Organization.

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Ron Howells

Ron actually started his working career as an Ophthalmic Technician- things changed when, during a band rehearsal, his amplifier blew up and he couldn’t get it fixed so he took a course at Birmingham University and ended up doing a degree course. He built up a chain of electronics stores and sold them as a franchise over 35 years ago. After five years touring the world Ron decided to move to Spain with his wife and son, a place they had visited over the years, and only bought the villa they live in because it has a guitar-shaped swimming pool!. Playing the guitar since the age of 7, he can often be seen, (and heard!) at beach bars and clubs along the length of the coast. He has always been interested in the news and constantly thrives to present his articles in an interesting and engaging way.

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