The port of Las Palmas has reaffirmed its leadership capacity in the global cruise sector during the Seatrade Cruise Global fair, where its designation as the host of the next edition of Seatrade Cruise Med was confirmed, set to take place on September 16 and 17, 2026. This milestone consolidates the position of the Gran Canaria capital as a first-rate strategic node, capable of connecting Europe, Africa, and America, and strengthens the commitment of Global Ports Holding (GPH) to the province following the comprehensive transformation of the terminals in Las Palmas, Arrecife, and Puerto del Rosario.
The president of the Port Authority of Las Palmas, Beatriz Calzada, emphasized this Wednesday the impact of this public-private collaboration, noting that GPH’s investments have been decisive in raising the service standard to meet the demands of the most prestigious shipping companies. The port, which anticipates a record number of 2.1 million passengers for 2025, now presents itself as a benchmark in sustainable design and operational efficiency.
According to Susana Gutiérrez, general director of GPH in the Canary Islands, the choice of Las Palmas to host the global industry is not an isolated fact but the logical consequence of a regional network that combines connectivity, modern infrastructure, and an increasing capacity to manage large-scale and complex calls.
In parallel to the consolidation in the Canary Islands, Global Ports Holding has taken advantage of the international forum to project its growth in the western Mediterranean by incorporating Sevilla and Ferrol into its portfolio. These two destinations, while geographically distant and with differentiated operational profiles, respond to GPH’s strategy of diversifying its European network through infrastructure enhancement and the integration of ports into urban fabrics. While Sevilla aims to leverage its unique river characteristics and potential for mega yachts, Ferrol seeks to quadruple its number of calls by 2030, relying on the operator’s global technical expertise.
Francesc Grau, regional director of GPH for the western Mediterranean, has emphasized that the goal is to enhance the unique identity of each port under a consistent quality standard. This roadmap, which integrates Las Palmas as the Atlantic anchor of the system, allows GPH to offer a diversified value proposition to shipping companies, optimizing both on-board services and the onshore experience. The synergy between the sustained growth of the Canary Islands ports and the new focus on assets in the Iberian Peninsula confirms an investment dynamic that seeks to capitalize on the post-pandemic boom in the sector, with Las Palmas leading the strategic ambition of the company in the Atlantic.
