2024 began with important news for tourism with the cruise industry in the country: this Thursday, January 11, a cruise ship with about 40 passengers docked for the first time at Cabo de la Vela, La Guajira, marking a milestone in the region and represents a great opportunity to continue opening the doors to the arrival of other ships.
The line responsible for this operation is Emerald Cruises, based in Switzerland. This company brought the Emerald Azzurra boutique cruise ship to the shores of La Guajira, built in 2022 and equipped with 50 cabins, intended for both passengers and crew.
The arrival of this cruise line generates new opportunities both for the inhabitants of these territories, as well as for businessmen and visitors interested in learning about the unforgettable experiences offered by the beautiful Colombian destinations.
The Emerald Azzurra, specifically designed to access smaller ports inaccessible to other similar vessels, began its itinerary on January 6 from Barbados, passing through destinations such as Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Aruba, Curaçao and Cabo de la Vela. This ship has additional stops scheduled in Santa Marta and Cartagena, before concluding its journey in Panama.
Álvaro Balcázar, General Manager of Fontur, pointed out that “through Fontur resources, nearly $80,000 million have been leveraged for the promotion of Colombia, the country of beauty internationally, and as a result, the cruise season has been energized. With the leadership of the ministry and hand in hand with ProColombia, we will continue this year on the path of positioning non-traditional tourist attractions in the world. In the case of La Guajira, last year $7.12 billion were allocated for tourism infrastructure, competitiveness and promotion of destinations.”
He added that “receiving foreign tourists in Cabo de Vela, without a doubt, is a fact that generates a positive impact by boosting the local economy and enriching the experiences of visitors.”
“Tourism is the great opportunity for La Guajira. With the arrival of this cruise we demonstrate that we are a competitive department and that we can be at the forefront of other tourist sites at a national and international level, this is just the beginning of the work that we are going to lead to enhance La Guajira and do what we look again at the sea as a fundamental pillar of the economic diversification that we Guajiros must bet on,” said Jairo Aguilar Deluque, governor of La Guajira.