Tourism bosses in Mallorca have introduced new limits on how many cruise ships are allowed to arrive per day in 2023 and 2024. The new rules mean that no more than three ships will be permitted to dock at Palma, the island's capital.
This decision was made after officials attended a meeting in Paris and agreed to stand behind the island's new 'quality over quantity' approach to tourism. This initiative, which is the first of its kind in Spain, aims to offer more protection to the environment and avoid over-saturating of holidaymakers visiting the island.
The Mirror reports that the port of Palma will not be able to receive more than three cruise ships per day in the next two years. There will be no exception days as happened in 2022 when, on a number of occasions, there were more than three liners in dock as arrangements had already been made.
The pact was agreed last May and now becomes fully effective. Companies signing the agreement included MSC Cruises, Crystal Cruises and Costa Cruises, among others.
Mallorca's Minister of Economic Model, Tourism and Labour, Iago Negueruela said: "The foundations of an even more responsible tourism model have been laid and one that continues to generate wealth, addressing the specific needs of Palma."
The deal means pictures that angered environmental campaigners, such as five megacruises docked on the same day in Palma, shouldn't be seen again.
President of the Employers' Association of Maritime Activities Entrepreneurs, Beatriz Orejudo said: "Palma is one of the most demanded by European cruise passengers but as agreed between CLIA and the regional executive, there will be no exception days in 2023, since the shipping companies have had enough time to adapt to the new regulation. "
But some critics have said the deal does not go far enough and is "insufficient".
Cruise tourism contributes more than 500 million euros to the Balearic Islands annually and creates more than 4,000 jobs. And it's not the first time that a holiday hotspot has looked to bring cruise limits.
For example, Venice limited cruise ships from lining the city in 2021 in order to protect its World Heritage Site status, and last year introduced new measures such as a tourism tax for day visitors, affecting cruise holidaymakers who were making short ports of call at the destination.
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