Call for pause in new licences for cruise ship docking in Mallorca capital Palma

THE Balearic Government has announced it will call on the regional port authority not to confirm new licences for cruise ships to dock at Palma.
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, regional Tourism minister Iago Negueruela and Environment minister Miquel Mir said the licence suspension would come into effect from the beginning of January 2022.
The aim, they explained, is to have sufficient time to continue negotiations with the sector to reach an agreement which allows for regulating cruise ship activity, resulting in “effective” and “real staggering” of cruise liner dockings at the Mallorca capital port.
Negueruela said that since last July there have been talks at the “highest level” between both regional government departments, Palma city council, the Autoridad Portuaria de Baleares and the International Association of Cruise Lines.
He expressed confidence in coming to an agreement with the shipping lines, resulting in measures which “protect our main sector and achieve a more sustainable tourism.”
Mir made the point that if the port authority accepts the request the Balearics will become the first region in Spain to adopt such a moratorium