Cruise Ship Policy Revised to Balance Tourism and Environmental Concerns in Visit French Riviera

The mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi, initially expressed opposition to large cruise ships visiting the French Riviera due to concerns about overtourism and environmental impact. However, he has since reconsidered his stance and proposed daily limits on cruise ship port calls to address these issues. The mayor’s decree, set to take effect on July 1, will restrict ships with over 900 passengers or exceeding 190 meters in length from docking in Nice.

While the mayor’s initial ban received attention, critics pointed out that Nice is not a major cruise ship port and can only accommodate luxury ships. Estrosi also aimed to extend the ban to Villefranche-sur-mer, where larger cruise ships regularly anchor. The cruise industry expressed concerns about the potential financial impact of the ban, estimating significant revenue losses for the region.

Following consultations with local leaders, Estrosi has proposed a compromise plan that balances public health and economic interests. The new plan, set to be presented on March 7, allows cruise ships with up to 2,500 passengers to anchor in the bay and tender passengers ashore. Mega cruise ships will still be directed to Cannes, while smaller ships with under 450 passengers can call in Nice. The compromise also limits port calls to one cruise ship per day, permitting around 65 of the originally planned 90 calls for the summer.

Other destinations, such as Key West and Bar Harbor in the U.S., have also implemented measures to limit cruise ship sizes or calls to address similar concerns. In Greece, the government imposed caps on daily visitors to popular islands and increased port taxes to fund improvements. These actions reflect a growing trend worldwide to manage tourism and protect local environments from the impacts of large cruise ships.

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