Puerto de Arica will build the first cruise terminal

The attention of cruise ship pbadengers arriving in Arica could change drastically next year, as this port is the first in the country to have a special terminal to accommodate these large ships. This, if Empresa Portuaria Arica (EPA) manages to award the construction of the new building, whose second call for tenders is in progress.

The EPA General Manager, Iván Silva, estimated that the projected field infrastructure located between Maritime Governance and the Regional Customs Office will require an investment of 2 million US dollars.

The executive also indicated that the work "implies a clear orientation of the port to the topics of interest of the people, facilitating the installation of a tourist infrastructure at the 39th. use of the Arican community, contributing to the development of the region. "

In March of this year, the company issued a first call for tenders, but the proposals submitted by two bidders exceeded the available budget. The second call is closed on 4 December with the receipt of tenders.

The proposed project for this building includes a pbadenger lounge, washroom, safety and recreation area, conference room and spaces. for the customs and treasury services, elevators, a terrace and a cafeteria.

In addition, the EPA provides for other uses of the building in the absence of landing. The conference room, for example, will be available for community events. It will also be used to receive entrepreneurs and students from Bolivia who travel to know the port, since the terminal is the one that mobilizes the largest percentage of the foreign trade of the neighboring country.

If the call for tenders is awarded, the work must be completed on time. seven months, to be inaugurated in December 2019.

Low Road

In the middle of the project, the 2018-2019 cruising season does not seem conducive to the port of Arica. The sites will number eight with 10,000 tourists, which represents a halving of the 2017-2018 period, which included 15 arrivals and 20,000 pbadengers. In fact, the maritime terminal ranks sixth at the national level in the reception of these vessels.

The mayor of Arica, Gerardo Espíndola, said that the construction of a special terminal for cruises "is more than necessary.I think that, precisely, the lack of infrastructure has allowed us to counting earlier in the autumn of this year.We hope this will rebound and that we will continue to be an important destination. "

President of the Arica Tourism Board, Andrea Beltrán, said that the new terminal "will increase the quality of care offered to tourists.If this building is built, pbadengers can have space to rest, communicate and enjoy services in a more secure way.We want more cruises to come "

He adds that improvements are needed on the Arica-Tambo Quemado international road, this route being used by tourist agencies to transport cruise pbadengers to Lake Chungará during the day. urnée.