Palma Port Expansion

16,900 arrived on just one day

The competition is now on to lengthen the pier where the big cruise ships dock when they come to Palma. In these recessionary days of cutbacks in public spending a contract worth €36 million doesn't come along so often and 14 big construction companies have put in tenders to do the work.

The winner should be announced by the end of July in readiness for a march 2011 start with a maximum duration of 16 months and when finished, will double the port's capacity to berth Cruise ships.

Already this year 323,000 people have arrived in Palma by cruise ship, a 37% increase on the same period last year and 16,900 arrived on just one day this week when no less than 6 ships berthed at the port. No wonder that it's seen by tourism chiefs and the government as an important, and lucrative sector of the economy.

Published 25 June 2010 Stephen White.