Fianna Fáil TD for Dublin Bay South Jim O’Callaghan has said the docking of the MSC Splendida cruise liner in Dublin port over the weekend highlights the great potential Dublin Port can offer the city, and has renewed his calls for the development of the port to attract more visitors to the city.
“Last August I called for Dublin Port to become Ireland’s ‘Home Port’ for cruise tourism, which would mean it is developed so it would be capable of facilitating larger cruise ships, and in turn greater numbers of visitors to the city and beyond. While it is important that we focus on air travel as a means of encouraging tourists to Ireland, we should not ignore the great potential which our sea ports also offer us.
“Last weekend we saw the benefits cruise liners can bring to the city, with thousands of tourists and crew enjoying the many attractions that Dublin has to offer, boosting the local economy. I have consistently supported efforts to make this type of docking at the port more commonplace and I am delighted that a record number of cruise calls are scheduled for the port for 2016.
“By 2020, Dublin Port’s €230m Alexandra Basin Redevelopment Project will allow it host the world’s largest cruise ships – up to 362m in length. I support the efforts which are underway to promote and develop Dublin as a ‘home’ or ‘turnaround’ port for cruise ships, with itineraries beginning and ending in the capital as opposed to simply hosting cruise calls.
“By attracting more ships, and having the capability of hosting larger ones, Dublin can grasp this opportunity to become a top class cruise tourism location. Dublin Port must seize this opportunity to become a leading cruise ship host, before rival European cities do,” concluded Deputy O’Callaghan.