Cruise tourism trends show growth in Arrecife and Puerto Rico

Cruise tourism is showing divergent trends in Puerto Rico and Arrecife. In Puerto Rico, cruise passenger numbers grew by 31.3% during the first seven months of the year, reaching 1.2 million visitors. However, July saw a 28.1% decline in passengers compared to the previous year, marking the first monthly decrease of the year. The “homeport” segment, which provides significant economic benefits through hotel stays and local consumption, grew by 72.3% during this period.

In contrast, the Port of Arrecife in Lanzarote is experiencing sustained growth. Between January and August, the port received 413,039 cruise passengers, a 14.7% increase over the same period last year. Local authorities project a record-breaking year, estimating that the port could exceed 730,000 cruise passengers by the end of the year. This activity accounts for 31% of the revenue for the Las Palmas Port Authority and supports local commerce and hospitality.