TRAPANI (ITALPRESS) – The port of Trapani is undergoing a transformation. It is expanding. This is evidenced by the figures shared by the president of the Port Authority of Western Sicily, Pasqualino Monti, during today’s press conference: the future of cruises in Trapani is on the rise and aligns with the city’s development. The meeting was attended by Mayor Giacomo Tranchida, the commander of the Port Authority of Trapani, Guglielmo Cassone, the Tourism and Culture Councillor of Trapani and president of the Western Sicily Tourism District, Rosalia D’Alì, the mayor of Gibellina Salvatore Sutera, the general director of West Sicily Gate Antonio Di Monte, and lawyer Nicola Adragna from the Management Committee of the AdSP of Western Sicily. A vision of sustainable growth and innovation was outlined. In 2025, approximately twenty-five thousand passengers are expected to arrive in Trapani (+113% compared to 2024) with fifty-eight port calls, marking a 45% increase from this year’s forty, reinforcing Sicily’s status as a favored destination in the international tourism landscape. Many of the ships belong to the luxury segment, attracting a discerning clientele drawn to the unique beauty and experiences the region offers. This year, five new cruise lines have chosen Trapani as their destination: Plein Cup with MS Hamburg, Crystal Cruises with Crystal Serenity, Antarctica Cruises with Sylvia Earle, Phoenix Reisen with Deutschland, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises with Seven Seas Mariner.
The city thus consolidates its role as a hub for passenger traffic to the islands and as a high-level cruise destination. With an upgraded port and a community ready to welcome guests, it is moving towards a new phase of development, enhancing its heritage and honoring its maritime tradition. In particular, the completion of the dredging project by the Port Authority, set to be finalized in the coming months, will broaden the types of vessels that can choose Trapani as a port of arrival and stay: this initiative symbolizes rebirth, offering an open door to international tourism, capable of providing authentic and memorable experiences to visitors worldwide. “The dredging work, supported by funds from the Pnrr, is significant not just economically, but symbolically,” comments President Monti. “By deepening the seabed to -11 meters, we facilitate the entry of larger cruise ships, thereby increasing cruise traffic and boosting local tourism and economy. This is also a signal of the city’s commitment to foster sustainable and quality tourism, drawing high-end visitors interested in the area’s historical, natural, and culinary treasures. Thus, it is not merely a technical operation to enhance safety during access and mooring, but a genuine investment in Trapani’s economic future. With the increase in port capacity, we expect positive repercussions across the entire tourism supply chain of the city. The rise in cruise traffic will indeed create new job opportunities, invigorating the local economy and offering a chance for the entire community, which prides itself on beauty and hospitality, to thrive.”
“The trend in cruise traffic to Trapani — explains Di Monte — is set to see a significant increase in 2025 compared to previous years, thanks to the tireless promotional efforts of the West Sicily Gate, in close collaboration with the Port Authority of Western Sicily, the Municipality of Trapani, the West Sicily Tourism District, and local industry operators. The arrival of approximately 25,000 passengers (+113% relative to 2024) is anticipated, aboard fifty-eight ships (compared to forty in 2024, +45%) from seventeen different companies, five of which will be making their inaugural visit to Trapani. Notably, MSC Cruises will contribute significantly, bringing over six thousand passengers (24% of the total) aboard the prestigious and luxurious Explora II during six port calls (accounting for 10% of the total). Recently, representatives from several cruise lines visited the port to experience firsthand some of the most interesting examples of experiential tourism and to discover the main cultural, tourist, and environmental attractions of the area. This initiative is part of a plan aimed at consolidating the current positive trend and ensuring an increase in the number of incoming passengers and cruise ships in the coming years.”
Monti concludes: “Our goal is to integrate the port with the city, enriching the urban functions of the port areas adjacent to the city center. The next step, in fact, will be the commencement of the waterfront works to truly transform the city’s appearance.”
– photo courtesy of the press office of the AdSP of Western Sicily –
(ITALPRESS).
