The Gibraltar Tourist Office (Gibraltar Tourist Board, GTB), under the Ministry of Tourism of the Rock, has announced the selection of Gibraltar as a finalist for the Destination of the Year 2026 award at the international Seatrade Cruise Awards. This global contest annually evaluates the activities of tourism administrations, port authorities, and maritime companies dedicated to managing passenger vessels and providing services to cruise passengers.
The announcement places Gibraltar among the selected candidates for the final resolution, which will take place on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, in the city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. The award ceremony will be held during the Seatrade Cruise Med trade fair, one of the main conventions in the cruise industry in the Mediterranean and the eastern Atlantic.
The Destination of the Year award specifically analyzes the operational and logistical value provided to shipping companies, the quality of the experience offered to passengers, and the degree of integration of visitor flows within the receiving local community. The technical jury considers both land management measures and programs aimed at optimizing economic performance and the sustainability of cruise operations at each port of call.
The technical report submitted by the Gibraltar administration detailed the behavior of passenger vessel traffic in the facilities of the Rock's port during recent years, as well as the investment programs carried out in the historical heritage and urban facilities. The document describes the actions taken to distribute cruise passenger pedestrian flows evenly towards the urban center, with the aim of generating a direct impact on commercial establishments, transportation services, and the local hospitality sector.
