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Bari and Puglia region gear up for growth
February 14, 2006

Italian port of Bari is gearing itself up for an increase in cruise ship calls after embarking on a major new facilities expansion programme. At the same time, new, Bari-based tour operator Eo Magis has embarked on an initiative to promote the area of Puglia to transiting cruise ship passengers.

Bari saw a 10% rise in cruise ship calls and passenger numbers in 2005 with 134 ship calls and 280,000 cruise passengers passing through its terminal. In 2004 the port received 121 cruise ship calls and 262,888 passengers.

For 2006 (end of March to end of November) Bari has firm bookings for a total of 112 cruise ship calls, including its first ever Japanese cruise ship, the 532 passenger capacity Pacific Venus, operated by Venus Cruise (a subsidiary of Japan Cruise Line). The 1998-built vessel will call on August 5, as part of a world cruise which leaves Yokohama on March 31.

Last summer work started on a €25m New West Dock (Darensa di Ponente) project which will feature two 300mtr cruise berths and 70,000sq mtr of new docks. Completion is set for the end of 2007.

Meanwhile, Bari's cruise terminal is to get a second, first floor check-in area from the summer of 2006, to cope with increased passenger numbers, especially Italian passengers embarking on Costa and MSC Cruises' ships. During 2005 the two leading Med operators operated five, and two ships, respectively from Bari.

Apart from visiting the medieval town of Bari, the second largest in southern Italy, a popular tour for passengers, says local operator Eo Magis, is the Trulli village of Alberobello (a 45 minute drive away) and the 'white town' of Ostuni.

The Trulli circular or rectangular white-washed buildings, date from the mid-14th century, and are still used as houses by the locals whilst laid-out on three hills overlooking the Adriatic, Ostuni provides views of the surrounding area. The old part of town, La Terra, dates from the 10-11th century and its houses are painted in a dazzling white. It is also home to the 15th century Cathedral, built in the late Gothic-style.

Seatrade Insider

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AJL

[ 02-14-2006: Message edited by: AJL ]

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Bari grows homeport business
March 15, 2006

Port of Bari which last year attracted turnaround calls from both Costa and MSC Cruises which chose the port as an embarkation point for Italian passengers joining eastern Med itineraries is set to become an ‘international’ home port with MSC planning to bring Spanish passengers to join its ships.

In total the line will charter 74 flights from Madrid and Barcelona to Bari’s new airport built last March. ‘I cannot stress the importance of the airport nearby which can help boost our homeport business and offers a real alternative to Venice for cruises starting in the Adriatic,’ said Tommaso Affinita, president of Bari Porto Mediterraneo, managers of the passenger terminal.

Traffic at the Port of Bari increased 8.6% last year when 1.4m passengers passed through the southern Italian port. 75,607 of these were on turnarounds as Costa and MSC Cruises both chose Bari as an embarkation point for eastern Med itineraries. Both companies are returning again in 2006 with two ships apiece: MSC Musica, MSC Armonia, Costa Victoria and Costa Mediterranea which will call on a regular basis every Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. ‘We are anticipating even better results this year,’ reported Affinita.

Work started recently on a new cruise facility which will be completed by 2008. Costing Euros 24m the new Darsena di Ponente(West Basin) will offer new berthing allowing the simultaneous handling of four ships.

Seatrade Insider

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