Cruise passengers grow in the port of Civitavecchia

The first four months of the year confirm the forecast growth of cruise passengers in the port of Civitavecchia. From January to April 2024, passenger traffic in the port of call reached 444,050, which includes both transits (253,900) and embarkations and disembarkations (190,150). These numbers correspond to an increase of 19%, compared to the same period last year.

The largest increase was in the transits sector, which grew by 35%, versus the same period in 2023. According to estimates by Roma Cruise Terminal (Rct), the concessionaire of cruise activity in Civitavecchia (whose partners are Costa Crociere, Msc and Royal Caribbean), in 2024 the 3.3 million passengers recorded last year could be exceeded.

The data were presented by the president of the Port Authority of the Central-Northern Tyrrhenian Sea, Pino Musolino, and the general manager of Rct, John Portelli. The Adsp's figures were joined by those of a survey conducted by a group of students from the Baccelli Economic Technical Institute, led by lecturer Mauro Adamo, on the impact, which turned out to be decidedly positive, of cruise tourism on bed & breakfast, park & cruise and restaurants in Civitavecchia.

The majority of respondents made it clear that they decided to start their business because of the presence of cruise passengers. Respondents also stated that the majority of their customers, more than 80% for hotels and almost 100% for car parks, are actually passengers. For their part, restaurateurs specified that between 50 and 70 per cent of their customers, both lunch and dinner, are cruise passengers.

As far as the future is concerned, 78% of b&b operators, 71% of car park operators, and 79% of restaurant operators confirm that the outlook is positive or very positive. The estimated economic impact from these three segments alone is almost 24 million euro and, the report states, "confirms the centrality of the cruise sector in the local territorial economy". To continue improving the offer to cruise passengers in 2024, Rct, Portelli recalled, has begun the first phase of the project for the new Donato Bramante terminal, which has involved eight local companies.