The Spanish metropolis of Barcelona is planning to drastically increase the fee for cruise tourists. So far, they only pay a fee of 7 euros, but Mayor Jaume Collboni explained in an interview with the newspaper "El Pais" published on Sunday that this amount is far too low.
This measure comes amid growing protests against mass tourism in Spain. In many cities such as Palma, Barcelona, Malaga and Valencia, people are taking to the streets to draw attention to the negative effects of tourism. According to the protesters, tourism is driving up the cost of living, especially rent prices, which have become unaffordable for many locals. The constant overcrowding of city centers by tourists is also causing significant traffic problems and increasing environmental pollution. The constant influx of tourists leads to increased noise levels and leaves behind a lot of garbage, which negatively affects the cityscape and reduces the quality of life of residents.
To counteract these problems, politicians are now planning to significantly increase the fees for cruise passengers who stay in the city for less than twelve hours. This measure is intended to help regulate the number of tourists and reduce the associated negative effects.
Criticism of mass tourism is nothing new. For years, cities like Barcelona and islands like Mallorca have been struggling with the consequences of excessive numbers of visitors. Despite various measures to regulate tourism, the problems are still present. The planned increase in cruise fees is another attempt to get the situation under control and better meet the interests of the local population.
However, a more comprehensive strategy is needed, both at the urban planning level and in tourism policy, to find a sustainable solution. In the long term, alternative approaches must be developed to better manage tourism and protect the quality of life of the inhabitants. Source: El Pais