The Port Authority of Algeciras Bay (APBA) is participating this week in the IV International Congress on Nautical Tourism and Cruises of Andalusia and the Alboran Sea (CITCA), which is being held until October 17 in Motril and Granada. The event, organized by Suncruise Andalusia, brings together representatives from the port industry, shipping companies, travel agencies, and tour operators, with the aim of consolidating a regional offer in the field of nautical tourism and cruises that attracted more than 1.2 million visitors to Andalusia in 2024.
Suncruise, chaired by Gerardo Landaluce, groups the ports of general interest of the State in Andalusia, as well as those of Ceuta and Melilla, to jointly promote the region as a destination for blue tourism. During the congress, the challenges of the sector will be addressed to evolve towards a more competitive, digitized, and sustainable model.
In the framework of this meeting, the APBA presents its ongoing actions to adapt its port facilities to the new demands of maritime tourism. Among them, it highlights the provision of OPS (Onshore Power Supply) technology at the docks of Isla Verde Interior, in the port of Algeciras, and at the Sagrado Corazón de Jesús dock, in the port of Tarifa, which will allow ships to connect to the electrical grid during their stay in port, thus reducing pollutant emissions.
In addition, the port of Tarifa is undergoing a modernization process that includes the installation of new water and electricity services, larger bollards, and fenders. These improvements aim to adapt the infrastructure to accommodate small cruise ships, sailboats, and high-end recreational vessels, a segment that has already shown interest in operating in the area.
During the congress, the APBA also promotes the facilities of Algeciras and Tarifa, as well as La Línea de la Concepción marina (Alcaidesa Marina), as possible stops for luxury cruises. The region of the Strait of Gibraltar is positioned as a differentiated destination, with a unique tourist offer that includes experiences like whale and bird watching, water sports, diving at the meeting point of the Mediterranean and Atlantic, golf on top-level courses, historical and gastronomic routes, and unique natural enclaves like the Natural Park of the Strait or the Fog Forest in Los Alcornocales.
The proximity between Europe and Africa adds additional strategic value, allowing visitors to discover two continents in a single day. Among the heritage attractions are monuments such as the castles of Guzmán el Bueno, Castellar, and Jimena, the Roman ruins of Baelo Claudia, or cultural spaces like the Paco de Lucía interpretation center in Algeciras.
Along with this tourist offer, the APBA promotes the services associated with the transit of cruises in its facilities, highlighting its logistical capacity to handle refueling operations with low-sulfur fuels, LNG, and bioLNG, as well as to carry out repairs or manage crew changes.