CIVITAVECCHIA – An estimated turnover of over 7.7 million euros, just for B&Bs and holiday homes, with a growing impact, as also confirmed by the stay of tourists in accommodation facilities, of around 2 days. Cruises confirm themselves as an important point of reference for Civitavecchia, as highlighted by the study by the Baccelli students, coordinated by Professor Mauro Adamo, presented in Adsp, in the presence of the president Pino Musolino and the general director of Rome Cruise Terminal John Portelli. Cruises which, in just the first 4 months of 2024, have already recorded an increase of 19% compared to the same period last year.
THE POINT – The results of the investigations, carried out by the students of the VB AFM class of the Guido Baccelli Institute under the guidance of Professor Mauro Adamo, on the impact of cruise tourism on the Bed & Breakfasts, Park & Cruises and restaurants of 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 – they explained – secondly, the interviewees state 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 Pirgo seafront. 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 emerging from the survey carried out by the students is that the B&B structures 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”.
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.
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.
JOBS – Roma Cruise Terminal also says it is optimistic about the future. This is also confirmed by the recent investment to continue improving the offer to cruise passengers.
«We have already started the first phase of the project for the new Donato Bramante terminal – explained Rct manager John Portelli – by dismantling the old structure: a painstaking operation to dismantle it piece by piece, so as to be able to reuse it, if necessary, in the future . Eight local companies were involved in the operations: in a phase of stagnation in cruises, such as the winter one, the sector continued to guarantee jobs”. In the meantime, having completed the work relating to the underground services, the company is finalizing the final aspects relating to the documents to proceed with the tender for the assignment of the works.
«Our objective – added Portelli – remains to make the new terminal operational for the summer of 2025. At the same time we are completing the works to equip the Amerigo Vespucci terminal with photovoltaic panels: the structure, with 300 KW/h, will be thus being totally self-sufficient and able to manage itself with renewable energy.” An important intervention for the port “which, in this way – concluded Portelli – becomes even more of an excellence in the cruise sector, this time from an environmental point of view”.
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