Gibraltar redoubles cruise tourism effort as it reveals plans for new cruise terminal

Gibraltar has revealed plans for a new cruise terminal, which will replace the current facility as the British Overseas Territory looks to boost cruise tourism numbers and support local businesses on its Main Street commercial and shopping district.

The plans were announced by Minister for Tourism Vijay Daryanani, who confirmed that the new double-storey cruise terminal will replace the current one that sits adjacent North Mole in Gibraltar Harbour on the cruise pier.

The cruise terminal will include a rooftop lifestyle and entertainment space, and will be built to exacting sustainability standards according to the announcement. The main passenger area will be on the ground floor, while the first level will be for events and conferences, as well as retail.

The entire facility will cover around 3,817sqm and the project will be overseen by a person appointed from within the Gibraltar Tourist Board who will work full time on catering to the cruise industry.

“The present terminal is looking tired and this magnificent facility will be something Gibraltar will be proud of,” said Daryanani. “It has been a long process and a lot of time and effort has gone into this project.”

Daryanani said that Gibraltar has the potential to become the most important cruise destination in the Western Mediterranean, but with the competition among cruise destions in the region increasing, it was imperative to constantly improve the offering for cruise lines and their passengers.

“This new facility will provide a luxurious passenger experience, in a world class environment, including improvements in the surrounding area,” he said. “Gibraltar is highly respected in the cruise industry but I want more.”

“I want us to set a benchmark of high standards and I am sure with more hard work we can achieve this. This is not an easy job and a lot of work goes on behind the scenes. The Government is committed to the cruise industry and to helping Main Street trade. This project is the start of our ambitious vision for cruising for the next 25 years,” he said.

Gibraltar welcomed 213,383 cruise passengers in 2022, according to government data, which is still significantly lower than its pre-pandemic numbers. In 2019, some 328,057 passengers visited Gibraltar, providing around $17 million in revenue for local business.