IBIZA ON THE EVE OF A NEW CRUISE BOOM

WITH the cruise industry on the verge of another boom period with the advent of low-cost cruises in the Mediterranean next year, the recent opening of the new Botafoc quay in Ibiza provides enough mooring space for an extra 150 cruise ships per year. The Balearics is already well established as one of the Mediterranean's key cruise destinations with substantial amounts of money having been invested in expanding port facilities, especially in Palma, and improving services. Sources for UMAFISA, the company in charge of cruise operations in Ibiza, said yesterday that the new port is not only equipped with the best safety measures available, but will also enable Ibiza to develop its cruise industry which in turn will benefit tourism and the island's economy. The first of the large cruise liners to use the new port facilities will be the Italian ship Costa Mediterránea which will moor up in Ibiza on June 21 with 2.000 passengers on board. In anticipation of the new port being open ahead of this summer, Ibiza is already expecting to handle 40.000 more cruise passengers than last year, although now that the port is open, a number of large cruise companies are interested in including Ibiza in their cruises this summer. Each cruise ship which visits the Balearics generates around six million euros, according to recent studies and, in the case of Ibiza, that money is going to be re-invested in the construction of a passenger terminal, for both the cruise ships and ferries. The aim is to have the terminal completed for next summer with easyJet looking to start its low cost cruise market in the Mediterranean and the Caribbean, eventually having as many as 32 ships operating. Ibiza and Majorca are two of its top summer flight destinations and the company is expected to want to have its cruise ships, starting from £29 per night, calling into both ports.