CLIA
Comunicado de imprensa
Cruise Industry Has a €1.934 Million Impact in Lisbon

Lisbon Port Establishes Committee for Sustainability of Cruise Activity in Lisbon

Sector Generated €317 Million in Taxes and Over 20,000 Jobs
Lisbon, October 29, 2024: Today, the Lisbon Port held the “Meeting for the Sustainability of Cruise Activity in Lisbon,” as part of the 137th anniversary of the Lisbon Port, celebrated from October 26 to November 1. The event, held at the Lisbon Cruise Terminal, underscored the importance of the cruise industry for both the national and local economy, as well as efforts being made to mitigate this sector's environmental impact.

According to the study Economic Impact Assessment of the Cruise Industry in Lisbon 2023, conducted by Nova SBE, this industry accounted for 0.3% of the national GDP in 2023, generating €794 million, an increase of 136%, or €458 million more than the €336 million reported in 2019.

Study Findings:

The cruise sector in Lisbon represented 2.16% of the National Tourism GDP, generating €1.934 million in production (total impacts – indirect, direct, and induced) with a direct impact of €794 million.
Each cruise ship docking at the Port of Lisbon contributes, on average, €2.29 million to GDP, creates 59 jobs, and generates €0.91 million in tax revenue. These figures represent a significant increase compared to 2019.
Cruise passengers in Lisbon spend an average of €159, showing an increase compared to the figures recorded in 2022 and 2019.
The economic impact of the cruise activity is felt across various sectors of the Portuguese economy:
Accommodation: €142 million
Travel Agencies: €112.8 million
Retail: €108.8 million
Restaurants: €81.3 million
Transportation: €79.6 million
The industry was also responsible for €1.934 million in production, €317 million in taxes, and over 20,000 jobs, with values comparing favorably to those of 2019, which saw €840 million in production, €133 million in taxes, and 8,863 jobs.

Carlos Correia, Chairman of the Board of APL, emphasized, "The Port of Lisbon plays a fundamental role in the economic development of the City and the Country, and cruise tourism is an important part of that contribution." However, Correia acknowledged, “We are aware of the urgent need to reconcile this growth with environmental preservation. Therefore, we are committed to leading a transition towards more sustainable practices, working closely with strategic partners to reduce our activity's environmental impact.”

The event also formalized the creation of the Committee for the Sustainability of Cruise Activity in Lisbon, a collaborative initiative that highlights a collective commitment to promoting sustainable solutions for the cruise tourism sector, both in Lisbon and Portugal.

The Committee includes various strategic partners linked to the sector, such as APL, the Lisbon City Council, AGEPOR, ANA Airports, CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association), LCP (Lisbon Cruise Port), and Tourism of Lisbon, who signed the Memorandum. New partners, such as Tourism of Portugal, TAP, and Zero Association, who also have a role and interest in cruise sustainability, will sign the Memorandum soon.

In addition to the economic benefits, the Port of Lisbon highlighted its commitment to sustainability, presenting innovative projects to reduce ship emissions, reinforcing its goal of transitioning to more responsible and environmentally friendly practices. The objective is to ensure that Lisbon remains a top cruise tourism destination, balancing environmental protection with sustainable economic growth.

To this end, the study Monitoring of Air Quality Around the Lisbon Cruise Terminal was presented, which assessed ship emissions in cruise ship influence areas over a year. The results indicate that, despite some occasional exceedances of WHO guideline values for fine particles and nitrogen dioxide, pollution levels in Lisbon remained within European and national legal limits.

Full Program for the 137th Anniversary of the Port of Lisbon at:
https://www.portodelisboa.pt/web/eventos