The Balearic Government has reached a five-year agreement with the main cruise lines, which also stipulates that the number of cruise passengers per day cannot exceed 8,500. In practice, the agreement represents a 15% reduction compared to 2019 port calls. Furthermore, exceptions to this agreement have been agreed upon for 2022 in order to respect scheduled berth reservations.
CLIA statement
The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) is pleased to continue its cooperation with the Government of the Balearic Islands to help the island of Mallorca address its specific needs in terms of tourism management, including the challenges related to the very configuration of Palma's old town.
Marie-Caroline Laurent, CLIA's Managing Director for Europe, stated: “Destination stewardship is one of the key ingredients of responsible tourism, and CLIA and its member shipping companies collaborate with local authorities, ports, and other organizations on responsible tourism initiatives that help preserve the integrity, cultural heritage, and beauty of the world's most treasured destinations.
Providing a high-quality passenger experience is at the heart of the cruise industry. We share with our destinations the need for local communities to benefit from the social and economic advantages of tourism, while also safeguarding the long-term sustainability of these destinations for future generations.
We recognize that each destination is unique and we will continue to cooperate with local authorities to help the destination continue to thrive through responsible tourism.”.
Alfredo Serrano, CLIA's director in Spain, comments: “As a major cruise destination, the cruise industry contributes significantly to the economy of the Balearic Islands, where the industry generates more than 500 million euros and supports around 4,000 jobs.
For our part, we take note of the new framework the destination intends to implement and support its objectives of ensuring harmonious coexistence between residents and tourists. This approach illustrates CLIA's commitment to working with the world's most visited destinations to collaborate on their long-term management.
