Spanish island Ibiza is looking to control tourism with a new policy that allows a maximum of two cruise ships to dock simultaneously.
The move echoes the guideline introduced by the port of Mallorca two years ago, which imposed a two-cruise-ship-per-day limit.
Multiple Ships Overwhelm City
From July to August this year, up to three cruise ships simultaneously called on the third-largest Balearic island. This trend is anticipated to continue in September if cruise ship arrivals remain unregulated.
Ibiza President Vicente Mari states that the government will partner with the local port authority to manage vessels’ simultaneous arrivals.
Mari explained that the sudden influx of cruises and passengers has overwhelmed port services and public transportation.
| “When the arrival of more than two cruises occurs simultaneously, the port and transport services collapse, which generates a problem in Ibiza town,” Express quoted Mari. |
The president also mentioned that the lack of planning negatively affects residents and tourists. However, he reassured the public that the new policy wasn’t designed to oppose the cruise industry but to create more structure.
| “We are not against the arrival of cruises but we ask that it occurs in a more orderly and planned way,” Mari announced. |
The Ibiza government is also entertaining the idea of limiting the number of passengers who can disembark simultaneously.
Ibiza’s city council revealed that cruise guests collectively spend about €17 million or over $18.9 million annually when visiting the island.
Cruise Passengers in 2023 Highest Ever
In 2023, 548,969 cruise passengers visited Ibiza, representing a massive 86% growth from the previous year’s 295,368. With around 159,180 residents, passengers easily outnumbered locals last year by more than three passengers per Ibizan.
Likewise, the number of cruise ships increased by 34%, from 140 cruises in 2022 to 188 in 2023.
| Itziar Arratibel from the environmental group Ibiza Preservation suggested, “This increase could be related to the greater size and capacity of the boats that have moored on the island during the last year.” The same organization cited the industry’s impact on local ecosystems and natural resources. Biologist Elisa Langley reiterated, “During the 12 hours that these giant ships pass by our shores, they saturate the resources on which we deeply depend. This phenomenon takes us further and further away from a sustainable tourism model and contributes to the increasingly negative impact on our ecosystems.” |
Barcelona also expressed an intent to limit cruise ships. However, the national government is challenging these new policies, claiming they must be made in partnership with cruise industry stakeholders.
