by Donald Wood
Last updated: 10:05 AM ET, Sat March 7, 2026
One of Spain’s most popular travel destinations, Mallorca,
announced plans to reduce the number of cruise ship passengers allowed to
visit, starting in 2027.
According to The
Mirror, city officials in Palma, Mallorca, announced that the number of
daily cruise ship berths would be reduced from 8,500 to 7,500 between June and
September when the new rules take effect between 2027 and 2029.
Palma announced that ship berths would remain at 8,500
outside the summer season.
The reduction of 1,000 daily ship berths during the busiest
travel period was designed to help regulate “cruise activity and protect the
interests of the city, particularly in the historic center.”
As part of the new plan, only three cruise ships will be
permitted to dock in the Port of Palma each day, with only one vessel allowed
to transport more than 5,000 passengers.
The changes were implemented following concerns raised by
locals about overtourism in the region, which has caused protests in recent
years. Residents believe the local government has not done enough to curb the
increase in tourism.
Data from The Mirror suggests the Balearic Islands—of which Mallorca is the largest—welcomed an astounding 18.7 million travelers in 2024 and topped
19 million last year. There are an estimated 1.2 million locals living on the
islands.
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