Venezuela welcomes first cruise ship from Europe in 15 years
Venezuela welcomed the first cruise ship from Europe in 15 years on Tuesday, with the arrival at the paradise island of Margarita of the ship Amadea and around 500 passengers.
The Bahamian-flagged ship, operated by the German company Phoenix Reisen, entered the international port of Guamache, one of the largest in the country, in the morning.
The tourists – from Spain, France, Germany, Italy and Switzerland, among other countries – came off the boat smiling, greeted by folk music.
“Venezuela disappeared from the radar of cruise ships for many years,” Tourism Minister Ali Padron said as he celebrated the arrival of the cruise ship.
Tourism in Venezuela has collapsed over the past decade due to the political and economic crisis which has seen the GDP drop by 80%.
Exchange controls with hyperinflation, shortages and problems with the supply of water and electricity, but also crime scared away tour operators and visitors, and cruise ships had gradually turned away from Venezuelan stopovers.
“The destination has become a very insecure, high-risk destination,” Reinaldo Pulido, vice-president of the Higher Council for Tourism (Conseturismo), told AFP. Cruises “are a very sensitive activity and if there is a + noise + in security, the shipping companies leave because they prefer to avoid” the problems.
According to estimates by the port industry, activity has fallen by more than 50% since 2014.
Tourism started to show signs of improvement last year with the arrival of Russian tourists, but there are no official figures for the sector.
Amadea “opens up the possibility for us to get back on the radar of major cruise lines,” said Leudo González, president of Conseturismo.
The Amadea, which can accommodate up to nearly 600 passengers, left France on December 20 and will reach Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica, on January 12, where it will complete its Caribbean itinerary, including Scarborough (Trinidad and Tobago), Bridgetown (Barbados), Cartagena and Santa Marta (Colombia).
The ship was due to leave Margarita in the followingnoon for Bonaire and Aruba, Dutch islands. Venezuela has taken steps to resume relations with the Netherlands following three years of breaking and closing maritime borders.
“Anything that happens to bring in a new international tourist is already a gain because we are in absolute drought,” Mr Pulido added. “For us, it’s wonderful, a celebration and a demonstration that Venezuela can ‘welcome tourists.
