Ibiza Takes Action Against Overtourism by Regulating Cruise Ship Arrivals

The Spanish island of Ibiza, a popular Mediterranean tourist destination, is taking steps to control tourism, including cruise ship passengers. The Council of Mayors governing the Balearic island recently voted to address the overwhelming influx of tourists. With just 160,000 residents, Ibiza saw nearly 550,000 cruise ship passengers in 2023, up 86% from the previous year. Residents are concerned about overcrowding, particularly when multiple ships arrive, leading to transportation issues and crowded streets.

To manage overtourism, the Council of Mayors plans to work with the Port Authority to review the cruise ship schedule and ensure more controlled and planned arrivals. They aim to limit the simultaneous arrival of passenger ships to two, although they have not set a daily passenger limit. Additionally, steps will be taken to block illegal tourist accommodations and expand bans on multi-family rentals to address housing shortages on the island.

Ibiza’s efforts to control tourism follow a similar model implemented on the neighboring island of Palma. Last year, Palma capped cruise ship arrivals at three per day. Greece is also grappling with overtourism on popular islands like Santorini and Mykonos, prompting measures such as increased port fees. Cruise ship operators are working with destinations to adjust schedules in response to concerns about overcrowding and environmental impact. In other destinations like Juneau, Alaska and Bar Harbor, Maine, efforts to manage cruise ship visits vary, with some facing legal challenges.

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