In the 30 days of November, the region received 63 cruise ship calls, one of which was in Porto Santo. You must return to November 2012 to find the same number of calls. At the time, the geopolitical situation in North Africa, motivated by the social and political instability associated with the protests that became known as the ‘Arab Spring’, was the basis for increased demand for the Port of Funchal from cruise ships. Even so, the number of passengers handled was significantly lower in November 2012 than this year: 90,327 passengers.

In addition to the movement in November this year, the movement of crew members, according to a study carried out by the ACIF, has a similar, and sometimes even greater, impact on the regional economy. Last month, 58,685 crew members passed through the Port of Funchal and Porto Santo. More than the 41,685 recorded in November 2022, which until now was the highest number on record. Comparing the same period – November 2023 and November this year – there was an increase across the board: 50% more ship calls and 57.68% more passengers disembarked.

Last year, Madeira received a total of 279 ship calls and closed with the best-ever record for disembarked passengers, exceeding 624 thousand. This figure represents a 51% increase from the previous year and is expected to be surpassed this year when 590,969 passengers and 221,391 crew have passed through Madeira by November.

It should be remembered that November was when the Port of Funchal was awarded the Best Cruise Terminal in the World for its sustainability, which was awarded by the World Cruise Awards. In the two previous years, 2022 and 2023, Madeira had already been recognized by the so-called ‘Cruise Oscars’ with the award for Best Cruise Destination in Europe.

“It’s very important for us that these international awards, which recognize the quality of our Destination and our port infrastructures, continue to be accompanied by these economic results that translate into added value not only for us, the Port Authority, but essentially for our entire business fabric,” stresses the chairman of APRAM’s board of directors, Paula Cabaço, adding: ”It’s for the Region that we work.”

Translated to English as a community outreach program from the Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute (PBBI) and the Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures Department (MCLL) as part of Bruma Publication and ADMA (Azores-Diaspora Media Alliance) at California State University, Fresno, PBBI thanks Luso Financial for sponsoring NOVIDADES.