A growing number of international cruise lines could soon avoid docking in popular Spanish holiday destinations as protests against mass tourism continue across the country.
A popular location for Brits to travel to, many residents in Spain have held protests against the scale of tourism the country has experienced, arguing it has worsened air quality, overcrowded public spaces, and driven up the cost of accommodation.
Speaking to Reuters, Marie-Caroline Laurent, European Director of the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), highlighted that some itineraries may have to be changed if passengers are subject to abuse.
She explained: “There will be some consideration of adapting the itineraries if for some reason we feel that all passengers will not be well-treated.”
The organisation highlighted that these destinations would be swapped for nearby alternatives that are more ‘tourist-friendly’.
The cruising industry continues to grow in popularity, with 31.7 million tourists taking to the seas in 2023 alone, passing pre-pandemic levels.
In Europe, one of the most popular destinations to visit via cruise ship is the Mediterranean, with many tourists praising the area’s warm weather, mix of cultures, and easy accessibility.
However, local residents in a growing number of popular destinations, including Barcelona and the Canary Islands, have called for more measures to limit the number of cruise ships docking.
Residents protesting have particularly criticised the environmental impact cruise ships have, with some studies claiming that nearly 90 percent of waste produced is discharged into the sea.
Some have called on local authorities to introduce new measures that discourage cruise ships from docking, such as increasing the tourist tax for visitors spending under 12 hours in a city – with most cruises staying in destinations for under a day.
The CLIA has stated that those protesting about cruising of ‘tourismphobia’, highlighting measures that a number of popular cruise lines are taking to develop cleaner ships.
Speaking on a visit to Madrid, Marie-Caroline highlighted that tourismphobia could also affect a number of other popular destinations throughout the Mediterranean.
She added: “Tourismphobia is not only a problem in Spain, but also in France and other Mediterranean countries,
“But visitors are increasingly sensitive and the violent attitudes that have been seen in places like Barcelona have an impact on the destination’s reputation.”