Every year, more than 20 million passengers take a cruise and the cruise industry will increase its capacity by 10% in the next five years, according to forecasts by the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA).
Recent anti-tourist protests, like the one seen in Barcelona last week, where tourists were sprayed with water guns, is likely to have an impact on the itinerary of cruise liners.
Tourism-phobia is not only a problem in Spain, but also in France and other Mediterranean countries.
In 2021, Venice barred large cruise ships from anchoring in its historic Venice’s Giudecca canal due to environmental concerns.
The Balearic city of Palma de Mallorca is considering reintroducing limits on cruise liners which were first imposed in 2022, which will only allow three ships allowed in port each day with only one permitted to have a capacity of more than 5,000 passengers.
According to the French campaign group, Stop Croisières, in 2022, 50,000 people in Marseille - France’s biggest cruise port - signed a petition against cruise ships.
Santorini and Dubrovnik have also tightened restrictions on cruise companies.
While the cruise sector will have to look at the possibility of adapting the itineraries of its Mediterranean cruises, Alfredo Serrano, CLIA's director in Spain, pointed out there are countries such as Saudi Arabia and others in the surrounding area that are making "millionaire investments" in boosting their tourism sector and are welcoming tourists with open arms.
With 60% of cruise passengers being repeat visitors, it is essential for cruise companies to seek new destinations for the thousands of tourists who board a ship every month.
Time will tell whether the Mediterranean ports, which in recent years have benefited from cruise-ship tourism, may be the losers in the long term.
IOL Travel