Bilbao (Spain): from “Know Your Port” to the creation of a “Port Center by AIVP”

In addition to the various ways in which the port can be involved in the life of the city, several practices can promote better knowledge of the port. For example, the organisation of events and “port days/weeks” can become a forum for regular interaction between the port and the population. Another practice is scheduling guided tours by boat to provide a different perspective, closer to the ships and the port facilities, and by bus with excursions starting from points close to other tourist locations in the city. Finally, creating “port centres” can enable visitors to learn about the day-to-day life of the modern port while educating a wider audience. Bilbao used all these initiatives to connect with its citizens and became part of the AIVP “Port Center Network“.

This good practice also includes objectives 5.5 (Creating collaborative spaces for experimentation, e.g. technology halls, coworking spaces, Learning Centers, Port Centers, etc. to encourage interaction and stimulate new projects) and 6.5 (Organising temporary and permanent cultural events in port areas) of the AIVP’s 2030 Agenda.