Just 100km south of Barcelona, Tarragona is slowly building up its cruise business, according to port officials at Cruise Shipping Miami this week. Learn more about other Cruise Events including the Med, Asia and Latin America. Click here for details.

The creation of Tarragona Cruise Port is the direct result of a new business strategy by the region, going after literally millions of potential cruise passengers a safe fuel-saving distance away from a marquee port in Barcelona.

Tarragona offers cruise ships “personalized possibilities,” according to a statement, including UNESCO World Heritage sites and preserved medieval monasteries, which are still active today.

The area is home to seven world class golf courses, open all year, and in 2013 hosted the premier international event for the sport (the IGTM).

Tarragona also boasts one of Europe’s leading theme parks, PortAventura. And, of course, don’t forget the fantastic cuisine; the area is home to the highest concentration of wine and cava production in Catalonia.

The Costa Daurada(the region) has managed to create a tourism model which is both distinguished and family-oriented, a model founded on the excellent quality of its coast, its rich and varied cuisine, and its mild climate .

This week in Miami, Tarragona has unveiled its Cruise Port branding and new initiatives to go after more cruise business.