Cruise Tourism Drives Over One Billion Euros in Catalonia (Spain) in 2024

08-11-25

The Catalan economy has received a significant boost thanks to cruise activity, according to a recent study by the University of Barcelona (UB), commissioned by the Port of Barcelona and the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA). The research reveals that in 2024 the cruise sector generated an economic impact of €1.236 billion in Catalonia, equivalent to approximately €3.4 million per day.

Of that total, around €669.3 million corresponds to direct spending—by cruise passengers themselves, cruise lines, and their crews—while the remaining €567.5 million is classified as indirect and induced impact. In terms of contribution to regional GDP, the study estimates that this tourism segment contributed more than €700 million in 2024, which is particularly relevant when compared with Catalonia’s GDP, which reached €316.728 billion in the same year.

The report also analyzes the sector’s labor effects: in the city of Barcelona, cruise activity is credited with €855 million in turnover and the creation of 6,693 jobs. In addition, cruise passengers contribute directly to the municipality through the tourist tax and its surcharge, accounting for 9.1% of municipal revenue from that tax, which translates into €11.9 million for the Barcelona City Council.

Regarding taxation, the study estimates that the cruise sector contributed a total of €260.9 million in taxes: €154.2 million to the Spanish State, €94.8 million to the Government of Catalonia, and €11.9 million to the Barcelona City Council. The passenger breakdown distinguishes between “homeport” travelers, who embark and disembark in Barcelona, and “transit” passengers, who call at the port without starting or ending their trip in the city; the former are considered higher economic value. In 2024, 28.5% of homeport passengers came from the United States, far above the 9% that this market represents in the city’s overall tourism.

Out of a total of 3.7 million passenger movements recorded by the Port of Barcelona, about 2.8 million were cruise passengers, of whom 2.22 million (78%) visited the city and approximately 1.6 million did so as day-trippers without spending the night in Barcelona. This pattern highlights not only the volume of visitors but also the importance of capturing economic value beyond the mere technical stop.

These results come as municipal and regional authorities debate the effects of cruise tourism overcrowding. Specifically, the Barcelona City Council and the Port signed an agreement after a year of negotiations to reduce cruise terminals from seven to five by 2030. However, the study document warns that such a reduction in terminals “does not necessarily guarantee” a decrease in the number of cruise passengers.

The analysis invites a thorough reflection on how to manage this activity to maximize its economic and social benefits while minimizing negative impacts. Because although the positive impact is clear—job creation, fiscal revenue, economic dynamism—it is also evident that factors such as pressure on urban infrastructure, tourist congestion, and the need to diversify visitor spending are key if the model is to remain sustainable in the medium and long term.

The UB study underscores that the cruise segment contributes a significant share of tourism-related economic volume in Catalonia, with figures that far exceed one million euros per day, giving new dimension to the role of ports in the regional economy. At the same time, these figures put on the table the need for smart tourism management policies that consider both the optimization of benefits and the containment of adverse effects on host cities.

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