Barcelona, July 22, (V7N) – The city of Barcelona has announced the closure of two cruise-ship terminals in a bold move to combat overtourism and its effects on the environment and daily life.

Barcelona, one of the world's busiest cruise destinations, sees millions of tourists arriving by sea each year. This influx has strained the city's infrastructure, increased pollution, and impacted local communities. In response, the city government under left-wing Mayor Jaume Colboni is implementing tough measures to reduce tourism pressure.

The closure of the terminals is expected to cut cruise passenger capacity by 33%, aiming to reduce daily tourist numbers, air pollution, and urban congestion.

While local residents—many of whom have long protested against mass tourism—have welcomed the move, business owners and tourism workers are voicing concern. The cruise industry generates an estimated €1 billion annually for Barcelona’s economy.

The city now plans to emphasize local culture and sustainable tourism. This includes preserving historic sites and developing a low-emission transport system to make tourism more community-friendly.

Barcelona joins other cities like Venice, Amsterdam, and Dublin, which have already enforced policies to curb excessive tourism and promote sustainability.

Source: CNN News

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