Puerto Penasco, also known as Rocky Point, will be the site of a new massive port that will accommodate cruise ships and give a boost to tourism to the area. According to Epifanio Salido Pavlovich, the director of the Sonora Office of Tourism, the completed port could offer 200 cruises a year from the Puerto Peñasco cruise ship terminal. Holland America has agreed to have cruises originate and end at the new port in Puerto Peñasco. Construction is scheduled to begin next year and finish in about five years. Puerto Penasco is a growing area, located on the northern coast of the Sea of Cortez and about a four hour drive from Tuscan, Arizona (about 212 miles). According to the Arizona Daily Star, growth has been fueled by retirees from Arizona and currently has 45,000 permanent residents and 25,000 seasonal US residents. According to Sonora tourism data, Puerto Penasco attracts 2.3 million tourists a year. Part of the appeal of Puerto Penasco is the miles of sandy beaches with stretches of black volcanic rock. According to Fodor's Mexico 2008 "a number of major projects-including a complex with a shopping center, a luxury hotel, condos and villas, a yacht club, a golf course, and a marina-attract an upscale clientele."  With a new port, its close proximity to the US, and a large expatriate community, Puerto Penasco is an area that should continue to grow. "The home port will be similar to those in Miami or San Diego," said director of tourism Epifanio Salido Pavlovich. If Puerto Penasco does become a much larger port town, it may drive up values for the limited beach front property. Since the port is not scheduled to be finished for five years that should be enough time for the global economy, which is having a significant impact on the cruise industry, to rebound. With 25,000 seasonal US residents already and the baby boomer explosion looming, Puerto Penasco will likely become a major center for US expatriates in the future.  Sources: Sea of Cortez cruises to depart new Rocky Point port Mexican port near Ariz. gearing up for cruise ship business