Palma.—The President of the Balearic Port Authority, Alberto Pons, yesterday revealed that the organisation is planning on enlarging the port by 340,000 square metres in order to meet growing demand and also to be able to handle the new generation of super liners.
This year, Palma is already going to be a regular port of call for Allure of the Seas, the largest passenger ship ever constructed to date and other giants of the seas are queuing up to visit Palma.
Pons explained yesterday that as part of the enlargement plan, a new 3.200 metre quay is going to be built which will provide some 2,000 metres more mooring space for the larger super liners.
There are also plans to expand the main terminal, install new moorings for recreational craft up to 100 metres in length and improve access from the commercial quays to the city centre.
The total budget for the expansion project is 550 million euros but Pons considers it a worthy investment.
Yesterday he said that 40 percent of turn over in the city centre’s retail sector is generated by cruise tourists, hence why one of his short term goals is to increase the number of cruise liners and passengers coming to Palma.
Last year, the Port of Palma handled 1.5 million cruise tourists and this year a significant increase is forecast.