Barcelona to reduce number of cruise ship terminals to combat overtourism

On Thursday, Barcelona City Council and the port authority formalised a deal that will see the number of cruise terminals reduced from seven to five by 2030. This change is expected to lower the maximum daily capacity from 37,000 passengers to 31,000.

Barcelona, Spain’s second-largest city, is home to one of the busiest cruise ports globally. According to the city’s Tourism Observatory, 3.65 million cruise passengers passed through in 2024.

Cruise traffic in the city has surged by 20% since 2018, said Barcelona’s socialist mayor, Jaume Collboni.
‘For the first time in history, limits are being set on the growth of cruise ships in the city,’ Collboni said.

The project includes demolishing three current cruise terminals and building a new one, with a total investment of €185 million, adding to infrastructure spending already made since the initial agreement was signed in 2018.

Tourism continues to be a cornerstone of Spain’s robust economy, propelling it to second place among the world’s most-visited countries. In 2024, the nation saw a record 94 million international tourists.

However, the sector’s rapid expansion has provoked frustration over rising housing costs and fears that large visitor numbers are reshaping local communities. Anti-tourism protests have erupted in several heavily visited areas. ALSO READ: Thousands protest against over-tourism in Barcelona & Mallorca, many with water pistols.

Barcelona, famed for its Mediterranean coastline and architectural icons like the Sagrada Familia, remains at the epicentre of these challenges. The city is grappling with the impact of mass tourism, which brings in millions of visitors annually.

In response to growing discontent, officials announced plans last year to phase out around 10,000 tourist rental apartments by 2028. ALSO READ: Airbnb reaches agreement with Spanish government to remove irregular listings.

Similar moves are being seen across Europe: Venice has introduced an entry fee for day-trippers, and Greece has started applying a new tax on cruise ships docking at its islands. ALSO READ: Ibiza starts to limit caravans, tourist and rental cars on the island until end of September.