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Barcelona to close 2 cruise terminals amid overtourism concerns
Spanish city to lower passenger numbers from 37,000 to 31,000
Cruise growth at the port of Barcelona, one of Europe’s most popular tourist destinations, is to be restricted under plans to cut the number of terminals.
Cruise terminals will be reduced from seven to five by demolishing current terminals A, B and C, and building a new terminal on the site of terminal C.
The new terminal will be capable of serving 7,000 passengers "at any given time" as part of the €185 million (AED797 million) scheme. This will lower the number of passengers the port can handle at one time from 37,000 to 31,000 by the end of the decade.
The agreement between the port – one of the key cruise hubs in the Mediterranean – and Barcelona City Council comes against the backdrop of a local backlash against overtourism affecting the Catalan city.
Barcelona mayor Jaume Collboni said: “For the first time in history, a limit is being placed on the growth of cruises in the city.”
The mayor recalled that the number of cruise passengers increased by 20% between 2018 and 2024 without capacity limits.
“The current management of tourism involves setting limits and managing better,” Collboni added.
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A Port of Barcelona statement said: “The agreement signed today acknowledges that maritime tourism is an economic sector with a significant weight in the city, but specifies that it requires planning and management measures, just as is already happening in other tourism sectors such as accommodation, mobility, public spatial planning or taxation."
A sustainable mobility plan includes drafting a study to evaluate the mobility generated by cruise ships.
This will feed into a sustainable management plan for “land mobility of cruise passengers” and will include features such as a regular shuttle service and an ongoing monitoring system with data shared with the city council.
Information screens will be installed at all terminals to provide real-time information on the influx to the city’s main tourist spots “to improve the distribution of people and help to ease congestion in the busiest areas”.
The demolition work is due to start by the end of 2026 with the entire project set to be completed by 2030.
A Clia spokesperson said that agreement between the Port of Barcelona and the city council “reflects a shared recognition that long-term, balanced tourism management requires co-ordinated investment in infrastructure, mobility and visitor flow”.
They added: "Ensuring the sector’s continued contribution – while enhancing sustainability – requires a thoughtful, collaborative approach, and we welcome the opportunity for ongoing dialogue and partnership with the Port of Barcelona, the city council, and regional authorities."
With overtourism straining Europe’s cruise hotspots, less-crowded destinations like the Arabian Gulf offer attractive new opportunities for both travellers and the industry.
More itineraries are including Middle East ports as cruise tourism in the region is on the rise and set to be further accelerated and improved by Connections Cruise Arabia. The game-changing two-day cruise event, taking place in March 2026, will bring together more than 300 senior cruise leaders and influencers from across the global to shape the future of the sector.
For all the latest cruise news, bookmark www.connectingtravel.com/cruise
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