Official data shows that from January to May this year, Barcelona experienced a 21% increase in cruise ship arrivals and a 20% rise in passenger numbers compared to the same period last year, reaching a total of 1.2 million passengers.
Beautiful European seaside city loved by Brits launches new crackdown on tourists | World | News
Published: 2025-07-18 18:04:03 | Views: 6
Barcelona, one of Europe’s most iconic and heavily visited cities, is taking decisive action to limit the impact of cruise tourism by reducing its cruise terminal capacity and introducing sweeping sustainability measures. The Port of Barcelona confirmed this week that it will reduce the number of cruise terminals at its main Adossat Wharf from seven to five. The oldest terminals, which are terminals A, B, and C, are set to be dismantled to make way for a new, state-of-the-art facility that will be capable of handling up to 7,000 cruise passengers at a time.
The demolition of Terminal C is slated to begin in late 2026, with the new terminal scheduled to open by 2030, reducing the port capacity from 37,000 to 31,000. This restructuring is part of a £160 million initiative aimed at reining in the rapid growth of cruise traffic in the city, which has long been a point of tension among residents concerned about overtourism and environmental degradation.
The investment builds on a previous £229 million agreement established in 2018 between the city council and the port authority to manage cruise operations more responsibly.
The mayor of Barcelona said: "For the first time in history, a limit is being placed on the growth of cruises in the city."
He added that cruise traffic grew by 20% from 2018 to 2024 with virtually no restrictions, a trend the city now seeks to reverse.
José Alberto Carbonell, president of the Port of Barcelona, also said in a statement: "The signed protocol culminates the modernisation plan for the Adossat Wharf, which began a few years ago with the goal of upgrading port infrastructure and strengthening the competitiveness of the Port of Barcelona.
"This new phase includes the demolition of three old terminals and the construction of a new state-of-the-art terminal; the rehabilitation of the wharf and the incorporation of OPS electrification systems, as well as improvements to access and mobility through the expansion of the Porta d’Europa bridge.
"These actions represent a public-private investment of 185 million euros, which adds to the investments made under the 2018 agreement, and confirm the Port of Barcelona’s commitment to the sustainable development of cruise activity."
In recent years, Barcelona has emerged as the busiest cruise port in the Mediterranean, handling more ship traffic and passengers than any other port in the region.
However, the steady influx of cruise passengers, often tens of thousands on a single day has put strain on the city's infrastructure, exacerbated pollution, and triggered local protests.
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