🚢 Alicante will close 2025 with more than 100 cruises, €65 million in economic impact and 250,000 tourists
📊 New study confirms city attracts cruise tourists with quality, safety and lack of overcrowding
Alicante, June 9, 2025.
According to the new Study on the Economic and Social Impact of the Cruise Sector , in 2025 Alicante will welcome 104 cruise ships and the number of cruise tourists will exceed 250,000 , bringing the city around €65 million in direct economic impact .
🔑 Key indicators for 2025:
- 104 cruises planned by the end of the year
- 250,000 tourists , most from the UK, USA, Germany, Italy, Spain and Portugal
- €65 million is the projected contribution to the economy
- €80.18 is the average tourist expenditure per visit
- €319.36 is the average cost of a tourist starting a cruise in the port of Alicante
- €120 is the average cost of each crew member (around 80,000 per year)
- 74% of tourists intend to return
- 96% think Alicante is not an overcrowded tourist destination
🧭 Cruise tourists rate Alicante highly:
On a scale of 0 to 5:
- 🔒 Safety - 4.67
- 🚶 Mobility - 4.36
- ✨ Cleanliness - 4.61
- 🏰 Sights and Culture — 4.42
- 🍽️ Gastronomy - 4.08
- 🚢 Cruise Terminal - 4.27
- ♿ Availability - 4.46
- 🗺️ Tourist information - 3.8
“The city makes a great impression: well-kept streets, cleanliness, parks, navigation in English,” said Roberto Martinez, head of the Alicante Cruise Tourism Association.
🏙️ Infrastructure development and new measures
🔹 The city has implemented tourist offers:
- 🏯 Santa Barbara Castle (the most visited site) opens an hour earlier
- 🚐 Early shuttle service to the cruise terminal
- 🎟️ Simplifying access to online tickets for attractions
🔹 The "Alicante Cruise Friendly" program has been created - 71 stores in the city center participate in shopping routes and get to know the local culture.
🌍 Cruise tourism boosts the entire province
According to data from the Costa Blanca Tourism Board , every fourth tourist visits the cities of the region - Benidorm, Elche, Javea, Novelda , etc.
“Alicante is an example of sustainable, profitable and uncongested tourism,” said Marian Cano, Conseil d’Innovation and Tourism.
📈 Future Prospects
Alicante continues to grow as a cruise port:
- In 2024, there were 100 cruise ship calls , instead of the planned 84
- Further growth expected due to arrival of larger class vessels
- Infrastructure improvements and a sustainable approach will ensure long-term development
📢 Alicante is not just a port of call, but a full-fledged tourist destination with high quality service and a vibrant cultural life.
Cruise tourism here is an investment in the sustainable development and prosperity of the city.