The results of the investigations, carried out by the students of the VB AFM class of the Guido Baccelli Institute under the guidance of Prof. Mauro Adamo, on the impact of cruise tourism on Bed & Breakfasts, Park & Cruises and restaurants in Civitavecchia continue to demonstrate that the presence of cruise passengers has positive repercussions on the economy of Civitavecchia.
It is therefore not surprising that the vast majority of survey participants responded that they decided to start the business due to the presence of cruise passengers. Second, respondents say that the majority of their customers – over 80% for hotels and almost 100% for parking – are actually passengers. For their part, the restaurateurs specified that between 50% and 70% of customers at both lunch and dinner are cruise passengers. Regarding future prospects, 78% of B&B operators, 71% of car park managers and 79% of restaurant operators confirm that their future prospects are positive and/or very positive. The restaurants, chosen for the survey, are located in the main areas of Civitavecchia such as Piazza Calamatta, the Ghetto, Piazza Saffi, Viale Garibaldi and the Lungomare/Pirgo.
Interestingly, all the survey participants confirmed that their customers got to know them from the internet, which reconfirms the importance of this platform for promoting services for tourists in our city. Another data from the student survey is that B&B facilities have doubled from 2020 to 2023.
The estimated economic impact, from these three segments alone (B&B, Parking and Restaurants), is almost 24 million euros and confirms the centrality of the cruise sector in the local territorial economy.
Further details on the results of the investigation were provided during a press conference, chaired by the President of the ADSP of the Central Northern Tyrrhenian Sea Pino Musolino, in which the General Director of Rome Cruise Terminal John Portelli and Prof. Mauro took part Adamo of the Guido Baccelli Institute. A group of students from the Institute presented the results of their work.
This is the third investigation carried out by students as part of an agreement between Roma Cruise Terminal and the Guido Baccelli Institute. Thanks to this agreement, approximately forty students completed an internship at the Roma Cruise Terminal. Six more groups are planned for this year.
During the press conference, the results for the first four months of 2024 were presented, which confirm a good start for this year. In the first four months, 444,050 cruise passengers were transported, both in transit (253,900) on tourist visits and embarking and disembarking (“terminus”) in the port of Civitavecchia (190,150). These numbers represent an increase of 19%, for the same period last year. The greatest increase was that of the turnaround sector, which stands at a growth of 35% for the period January – April 2024 compared to the same period last year. According to estimates by Roma Cruise Terminal, the concessionaire for cruise activity in the port of Civitavecchia, whose shareholders are Costa Crociere SpA, Marinvest (MSC) and Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., the current year can exceed 3.3 million passengers registered in the year 2023.
The students’ results confirm that the growth in the number of terminal passengers (approximately 62.0% more than 2022 and 47% more than 2019) and that confirm the port of Civitavecchia as one of the first turnaround hubs at European level and worldwide, is having a positive impact on reception facilities, restaurants and car parks which in recent years have seen a “boom” in Civitavecchia thanks to the presence of cruise passengers. The increase in cruise activity is having a positive effect on local employment.
To continue to improve the offer to cruise passengers, in 2024, the Roma Cruise Terminal began the first phase of the project for the new Donato Bramante Terminal, which involved eight local companies.
The Port System Authority of the Central Northern Tyrrhenian Sea and Rome Cruise Terminal thank the shipowners, all the authorities and local operators for the support provided in these four months which has allowed the achievement of the excellent results achieved.
The Port System Authority of the Central and Northern Tyrrhenian Sea and Rome Cruise Terminal are confident in the positive trend of the cruise sector in the port of Civitavecchia, the port of Rome, in order to allow the port of Civitavecchia to consolidate its primacy in cruise traffic, for the good of the local community, the workers, the port, the city of Civitavecchia and the entire Lazio region.
