Tourist magnet Barcelona to cut cruise ship capacity
The city and the port authority signed an agreement to reduce the number of cruise ship terminals from seven to five by 2030, cutting traveller capacity from 37,000 to 31,000.
Spain's second-largest city hosts one of the world's busiest ports for cruise traffic, having received 3.65 million such passengers in 2024, according to Barcelona's Tourism Observatory.
Cruise passenger numbers grew by 20 per cent between 2018 and 2024, Barcelona's Socialist mayor Jaume Collboni said in a statement.
"For the first time in history, limits are being set on the growth of cruise ships in the city," Collboni added.
The demolition of three existing cruise terminals and the construction of a new one will cost €185 million, adding to previous investments since the first protocol was signed in 2018.
Tourism has helped drive the dynamic Spanish economy, making it the world's second most-visited country with a record 94 million foreign visitors last year.
But the boom has fuelled anger about unaffordable housing and concern that mass visitor numbers are changing the fabric of neighbourhoods, sparking protests in tourism hotspots.
With its Mediterranean beaches and world-famous cultural landmarks such as the Sagrada Familia basilica, Barcelona is on the front line of mass tourism, receiving millions of visitors every year.
It announced last year a plan to scrap around 10,000 tourist rental apartments by 2028 in an attempt to ease local discontent.
Elsewhere in Europe, the popular Italian city of Venice introduced a charge for day visitors last year, while Greece is implementing a tax on cruise ships docking at its islands.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
17 hours ago
- The Sun
Burnley offer virtual reality seat for fans
NEWLY-PROMOTED Premier League team Burnley are offering their fans a virtual reality viewing experience, meaning they can enjoy being at the club's Turf Moor stadium from their room. A partnership with VR experts Rezzil will mean a 'first-of-its-kind' immersive broadcast of Burnley's pre-season friendly on Aug. 9 against Italian club Lazio. Fans who acquire special headsets will be able to take a virtual seat inside the stadium, complete with match day commentary and in-stadium audio. 'It reflects our forward-thinking approach to fan engagement and our commitment to global supporters,' Burnley chairman Alan Pace said. 'Our mission is to provide the best experiences to fans, and by entering into the world of Virtual Reality, they can get closer to the game than ever before.' Manchester-based company Rezzil provides VR technology to help train athletes and provide analysis in various sports and last year signed a four-year partnership deal with the Premier League aimed at revolutionising fan engagement. 'We're thrilled to collaborate with Burnley FC and the Premier League to bring fans a truly next-generation football experience,' said Andy Etches, co-founder of Rezzil. 'Our technology has long been trusted by elite athletes to sharpen performance, and now we're using that same technology to bring it to supporters. It's a new way to watch football; it's like having a seat in the stands.'- REUTERS
The Star
18 hours ago
- The Star
No impact on Ambalat talks
'Oil tycoon Riza Chalid's case a separate and legal issue' MALAYSIA remains committed to resolving the long-standing Ambalat dispute in the Sulawesi Sea with Indonesia and will not allow legal issues involving Indonesian oil tycoon Riza Chalid to derail ongoing negotiations, Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Mohamad Alamin ( pic ) told Parliament. He stressed that Riza, who is wanted in Indonesia over a corruption case involving fuel imports, will not receive any protection from Malaysian authorities and that the law will be allowed to take its course. 'The Prime Minister has made it clear that the issue involving Riza is a legal matter, and we will not provide any protection for him,' Mohamad said during Question Time yesterday. 'The issue purportedly impacting negotiations on the Sulawesi Sea does not arise.' Riza, who is linked to a high-profile corruption case involving state-owned Pertamina, is believed to be in Malaysia, having entered the country on Feb 6, according to Indonesian immigration. Mohamad was responding to a supplementary question by Wan Ahmad Fayshal Wan Kamal (PN-Machang), who asked whether the Riza case might affect bilateral talks on the Sulawesi Sea. Earlier, Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin (BN-Kinabatangan) had inquired about the status of negotiations over the Ambalat area, a long-disputed maritime zone rich in oil and gas resources. In response, Mohamad said discussions between both countries had addressed multiple issues, including maritime matters and cross-border trade between Sabah and Indonesia. He added that several Sabah state agencies were involved in the Malaysia-Indonesia annual consultative meeting, such as the Sabah Lands and Surveys Department, Sabah Attorney General's Chambers and Sabah Marine Department, to ensure state interests are protected during negotiations. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto recently issued a joint statement pledging to explore a proposed joint development in the Sulawesi Sea, including the Ambalat block, in a peaceful and mutually beneficial manner. A Wisma Putra statement later explained that the joint statement marks a preliminary effort by both governments to work towards the best solution. The Ambalat block, spanning some 15,000sq km off the coast of Sabah, is believed to contain significant crude oil reserves. In 2004, PETRONAS awarded a concession to Shell to explore the area, sparking protest from Indonesia, which had granted similar rights to Italian energy company Eni. It was reported that in 2009, Indonesia protested Malaysia's military presence in the area, and in the following year, Indonesian navy vessels purportedly came close to opening fire on a Malaysian navy patrol ship for ignoring orders to leave.
The Star
a day ago
- The Star
Italy's economy shrinks slightly in Q2: ISTAT
ROME, July 30 (Xinhua) -- Italy's economy shrank by 0.1 percent in the second quarter of 2025 compared to the previous quarter, Italy's national statistics agency ISTAT said on Wednesday, citing preliminary estimates. ISTAT noted that the contraction was driven by a slowdown in value added by agriculture, forestry and fishing, as well as industry, while the services sector remained broadly stable. Although domestic demand remained positive, net exports weighed negatively on overall output, the agency explained in its note. On a year-on-year basis, Italy's gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 0.4 percent, easing from a 0.7 percent expansion in the first quarter, while the carry-over annual growth was estimated at 0.5 percent so far in 2025, ISTAT also said. Italian Minister of Economy and Finance Giancarlo Giorgetti on Wednesday informed lawmakers that the cabinet would maintain its economic growth forecast of 0.6 percent for 2025 despite the moderate slowdown.
