The Port Authority of the Bay of Algeciras (APBA) is participating this week in the international cruise sector fair Seatrade Europe, a meeting where shipping companies define the destinations they will put on sale in the next two years. The port institution is attending with the aim of promoting the ports of Algeciras and Tarifa, as well as the port facilities of Alcaidesa Marina, as stopover locations in a market that seeks differentiated itineraries and unique experiences for its clients.
In the German city, the APBA delegation, headed by its president, Gerardo Landaluce, has several working meetings scheduled with companies that have already shown interest in operating stops with ultra-luxury cruises and yachts in the Campo de Gibraltar. The proposal is presented at Seatrade as a destination oriented to luxury cruise tourism, based on the strategic situation of the Strait of Gibraltar and a catalog of tourist resources that are underexplored by this segment.
The offer combines nature, heritage, and specialized activities. Among the attractions is the possibility of visiting two continents in a single day, going on whale and migratory bird watching outings, playing golf on top-level courses, practicing windsurfing, wingfoiling, or kitesurfing at some of the windiest white sand beaches in Europe, and diving in the meeting point between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic. The environment also allows for hiking routes in the Natural Park of the Strait and visits to the Fog Forest of the Natural Park of Alcornocales, recognized for its microclimate and botanical richness.
The historical-cultural component includes visits to fortifications and reference sites in the region: the castle of Guzmán el Bueno (10th century), the fortresses of Castellar and Jimena (13th century), and the archaeological site of Baelo Claudia (2nd century BC). The proposal is complemented with a gastronomy based on local products such as red tuna and retinto beef, as well as urban experiences related to the musical legacy of Paco de Lucía, which features a route and an interpretation center.
The APBA incorporates into this presentation the historical port heritage in the process of recovery, with two sites that articulate the maritime narrative of the territory: Tarifa's Isla de las Palomas and the Fuerte de la Isla Verde in Algeciras. Both spaces are part of a rehabilitation program that aims to facilitate their integration into cultural itineraries aimed at cruise passengers and crews.
Among the unique elements of the proposal is the total solar eclipse scheduled for August 2, 2027, whose totality path will cross the Strait of Gibraltar from west to east, with Algeciras and Tarifa located at the center of the phenomenon. The port institution believes that this astronomical event could generate specific itineraries for the expedition and luxury cruise segment.
The promotion strategy is developed jointly with the Commonwealth of Municipalities of the Campo de Gibraltar and has the support of the Provincial Council of Cádiz, with the aim of attracting international tourism and diversifying visitation options to the area. The approach integrates public and private resources to build proposals tailored to the shipping companies' demands and the stopover times.
The APBA's presence at Seatrade has a dual institutional framework. On one hand, it takes place under the umbrella of Suncruise Andalucía; on the other, along with Ports of the State, at the stand PORTS OF SPAIN (Hall A4, Stand No. 500). Suncruise is chaired by Gerardo Landaluce and brings together all the General Interest Ports in the State of Andalucía, in addition to those of Ceuta and Melilla, with the aim of promoting the region as a cruise and sports boating destination.
Taking advantage of the event in Hamburg, Suncruise will present to the sector the next International Congress of Nautical and Cruise Tourism that will take place in Motril and Granada on October 15, 16, and 17. The meeting is aimed at being a working space for ports, shipping companies, administrations, and startups around a more competitive, digital, and environmentally friendly blue tourism model, with technical tables and sessions focused on operations, marketing, innovation, and sustainability.
In addition to the tourism aspect, the APBA presents in Hamburg the services and capacities it offers to the cruise ecosystem to facilitate its environmental transition. The port of Algeciras has a wide supply network of fuels with availability of low-sulfur distillates and liquefied natural gas (LNG) for bunkering operations, as well as an auxiliary industrial fabric that allows for repairs during stopovers and maintenance operations. The land and air connectivity of the hinterland and the terminal facilities also facilitate crew changes and associated logistical services.
In parallel, the ports of the Bay are advancing in the implementation of OPS (Onshore Power Supply) for electrical connection at the dock. In Tarifa, the Muelle del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús, and in Algeciras, the North Dock and the Muelle de Isla Verde Interior, are being equipped with this technology so that ships can turn off engines during their stay in port. The objective is to reduce emissions and noise during maneuvers and dockings, in accordance with the APBA's Green Strategy and European guidelines on air quality and energy efficiency.
