Global Ports Canary Islands (GPCI), in which Global Ports Holding, a subsidiary of Global Investment Holdings and the world's largest cruise port operator, has 80% share, submitted the tender for the concession to operate Las Palmas cruise ports in the Canary Islands, Las The best offer was selected by the Palmas Port Authority.
Mehmet Kutman, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Global Investment Holdings and Global Ports Holding, said, “As the world's largest cruise port operator, we continue our steps in this area without interruption, staying true to our strategy of further growth in this area. We are very happy to announce that we have given the best offer for the cruise ports of the Canary Islands after we took over the operation of the Kalundburg Cruise Port in Denmark, which we announced in the past weeks.”
Global Ports Holding CEO Emre Sayın emphasized that they will carry their international experience and business models in cruise port management to the Canary Islands after the concession agreement was signed and the operation started.
Global Ports Canary Islands (GPCI), an affiliate of Global Investment Holdings and 80% of the shares of Global Ports Holding (GPH), the world's largest cruise port operator, has been awarded for the concession to operate Las Palmas cruise ports in the Canary Islands. The proposal was selected as the best proposal by the Las Palmas Port Authority. The other 20 percent shareholder of GPCI is Sepcan SL, a family company that has been providing service to the port of Las Palmas in the Canary Islands since 1936, focusing on areas such as mooring, luggage and passenger services since 1998, and also operating in marine environmental issues. (“Sepcan”).
In the statement made by Global Investment Holdings to KAP, it was noted that the concessions subject to the tender cover the cruise ports of “Las Palmas de Gran Canaria”, “Arrecife (Lanzarote)” and “Puerto del Rosario (Fuerteventura)”. The concession periods for these ports will be 40 years, 20 years and 20 years, respectively.
Las Palmas Cruise Ports, which is the third busiest port in Spain after Barcelona and the Balearic Islands, is also among the top 3 ports in Europe. While Las Palmas Ports is in an important position for South Atlantic routes with its air transport connection, it hosted more than 20 thousand passengers with “bubble cruises” around the islands in 2020, unlike other European ports that were closed to cruise traffic during the pandemic period.
GPH's number of ports will increase to 22
GPH will use its global experience and operating model to manage cruise port operations in Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura if it acquires the concession rights. In addition, with the possible concession rights, the number of cruise ports operated and managed by GPH will increase to 22, while cruise passenger capacity is expected to exceed 15 million passengers per year, including ports that are in the minority in the portfolio.
In the next period, GPH, GPCI and Port Authority will negotiate and work on Concession Agreements. The signing of the contracts depends on the agreement of the parties on the terms of the contract. Although there is no definite provision regarding the timing and the final conditions will be met, it is expected that the concession rights will start to be exercised before the end of the first quarter of next year.
'We stay true to our growth strategy'
Mehmet Kutman, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Global Investment Holdings and Global Ports Holding, said, “As the world's largest cruise port operator, we continue our steps in this area without interruption, staying true to our strategy of further growth in this area. We are very happy to announce that we have given the best offer for the cruise ports of the Canary Islands after we took over the operation of the Kalundburg Cruise Port in Denmark, which we announced in the past weeks. Our long-term positive view on cruise tourism, which is the most popular segment of tourism, continues. We continue to evaluate and negotiate rational opportunities to expand our portfolio.”
'We are looking forward to the work'
Global Ports Holding CEO Emre Sayın emphasized that they will carry their international experience and business models in cruise port management to the Canary Islands after the concession agreement was signed and the operation started. Stating that if the cruise ports of the Canary Islands are included in the portfolio, they will exceed the passenger capacity of 15 million, Mr. Sayın said, “We are pleased to have submitted the best offer for the Las Palmas Cruise Ports of the Global Ports Canary Islands. We are working closely with the Port Authority of Las Palmas to successfully conclude the concession agreement. "Despite the difficulties we experienced during the Covid-19 pandemic, we are achieving our strategic goals of expanding our cruise port network."
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