Barcelona residents and city officials demand stricter policies to curb the unmanageable influx of tourists. Initial proposals include banning the arrival of cruise vessels and limiting the number of operational cruise terminals.
The number of cruise passengers in Barcelona rose 13.7% in 2023 versus 2019 pre-pandemic levels, bringing the annual number to 3.5 million. During the first four months of 2024, figures show 8% more tourists than last year.
Locals fear the city will soon be inundated with 5 million tourists a year if the cruise industry continues unabated.
| “The roads and pavements in the center of the city and near the Sagrada Familia are already saturated with cruise tourists and this model is unsustainable,” said Didac Navarro, a member of an anti-cruise group. |
In a city with only 1.6 million residents, cruise ships carrying thousands of passengers can easily overwhelm the local population, cause congestion, and inflate prices.
City Mayor Jaume Collboni announced his intention to renegotiate a 2018 agreement with the Cruise Line International Association (CLIA). According to Deputy Mayor Laia Bonet, the local port and city council officials have already agreed to impose limits on cruise ships and their passengers.
Currently, the city has five cruise terminals. An additional terminal is being built, while another has yet to be developed.
Jordi Valls, who heads tourism in Barcelona, reiterated that the city cannot support current growth rates. “We want to propose a new agreement with the port about the number of terminals. Each year, the number of cruise tourists rises about 9% and that is not acceptable for the city.”
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for CLIA stated that the move would “create a climate of uncertainty and would not bring any benefits to the city.”
Barcelona Bans Cruise Ships from Central Port
In October 2023, Barcelona began banning cruise ships from docking at its central port, forcing vessels to call on terminals further away from the busy La Rambla district. Despite the change, cruise passengers continue to flock to Barcelona and other cruise destinations in Spain.
Anti-cruise protests have taken place in Palma de Mallorca’s Balearic Island, Ibiza, and Menorca.
