Arrecife on course to set new cruise passenger record

Arrecife received 373,847 cruise passengers so far this year, a growth of 10.1% compared to 2023.

From the start of the year until the end of last month, Lanzarote’s capital has seen an increase of 10.1% of cruise passengers compared to last year, according to Arrecife Ayuntamiento.

At the latest World Travel Market in London, Arrecife Mayor Yonathan de León agreed with shipping company executives to turn Arrecife into the “nerve centre of the cruise ships” in their winter seasons.

According to data provided by the Las Palmas Port Authority, Arrecife closed 2023 with 504,805 cruise passengers, a figure that is expected to be exceeded this year.

Arrecife’s commerce and tourism councillor, Eli Merino, states that cruise tourism activates local employment in the hotel and catering, commerce, transport and tourism sectors.

Forecasts show that 16 large cruise ships are expected to arrive in Arrecife this week, bringing approximately 40,000 cruise passengers.