Ports of the State and 23 Spanish Port Authorities participate from this Monday in the Seatrade Cruise Global in Miami, the largest cruise fair in the world, which is held from April 13 to 16. The stand of Ports of Spain, coordinated by the public entity and with the presence of its president, Gustavo Santana, is presented under the slogan "Make your landing unforgettable" with the aim of conveying to shipping companies the innovations of the Spanish port system in terms of infrastructure, sustainability, and services for cruise tourism.
The Spanish pavilion has an area of over 400 square meters, a space from which port authorities will showcase the competitive advantages of including Spanish ports in the routes of cruise companies. The Seatrade Cruise Global brings together over 650 exhibitors, more than 75 shipping companies, representatives from 128 countries, and over 11,500 attendees, making the event the main global showcase for the sector.
Spain ranks as one of the world's leading destinations for cruise tourism. The figures for cruise passenger movement through Spanish ports exceeded 14 million in 2025, with a growing diversification of stops along the Spanish coast.
The first day of presentations at the Ports of Spain stand will take place on Tuesday, April 14. At 11:30 AM, the Port Authority of Santa Cruz de Tenerife will present the initiative "Ports, Islands and Communities: Building Destination from the Ports of Tenerife." Then, at 12:00 PM, the Port Authority of Las Palmas will present its proposal for Seatrade Med 2026, with the Port of Las Palmas as the official venue for the benchmark event for the cruise industry in the Mediterranean and adjacent seas, scheduled for September.
At 12:30 PM, the Port Authority of Seville will present "Cruise Terminal at the Port of Seville, a new approach for cruise and megayacht tourism in the heart of Andalusia," a proposal focused on integration with the province and passenger experience. Following that, at 1:00 PM, the Port Authority of Almería will announce "Port of Almería, redefining cruise tourism," with its commitment to a more sustainable, responsible, and efficient port. The last presentation of the day, at 3:00 PM, will be by the Port Authorities of Ferrol, Seville, and Las Palmas at the stand of Global Ports.
The second day, Wednesday, April 15, will start with a working breakfast at 8:00 AM in the Botanical Garden, organized by Tourspain in collaboration with Ports of the State. In this meeting, the Port Authorities will meet with the itinerary planners of the shipping companies to finalize the routes for 2028. The Tourism Counselor of Spain in Miami, Elvira Marcos, and the president of Ports of the State will welcome the attendees. Between 9:30 AM and 11:00 AM, the institutional visit to the Ports of Spain stand by the Consul General of Spain in Miami, Belén Alfaro, is scheduled.
The presentations will continue in the Spanish pavilion. At 11:00 AM, the Port of Valencia will announce its excursion offerings in the province under the title "Uncover the Charm: Valencia Province at Your Fingertips." At 12:00 PM, the Port of La Coruña will present its project linked to the total solar eclipse on August 12, under the name "Solar Eclipse and Stops." The port city in the northwest of the peninsula positions itself as one of the best destinations in Europe to observe this astronomical phenomenon. At 1:00 PM, Ports of the State will offer the traditional institutional cocktail in the Spain pavilion.
Parallel to the presentation program, the president of Ports of the State will hold various working meetings with operators and institutional representatives in the sector to explore synergies and promote the value of Spanish ports as a strategic stop for cruise tourism.
The cruise industry has a significant impact on the economy and employment in Spain. In 2023, this sector contributed over 3.2 billion euros to GDP and generated around 52,000 jobs, according to the economic impact study of ports of general interest prepared by Ports of the State.
The Spanish port system is working to ensure sustainable growth in the cruise sector, with the involvement of shipping companies, the port community, and local institutions. In this regard, decarbonization and electrification plans for docks are being implemented to provide electrical power to ships from renewable sources, aiming to reduce emissions and noise. These actions are complemented by projects for port-city integration and the commitment to digitalization technologies aimed at improving the cruise passenger experience and their interaction with citizens in port destinations.