Since the Balearic government and the cruise association CLIA agreed in December 2021 that in future only a maximum of three cruise ships would be moored in Palma's port at any time, the number of ships has already been significantly reduced. However, an exemption still applied this year, as planning was already well advanced at the time the agreement was signed.
In 2023, however, the new regulation is now to take full effect. The number of calls next year will be 437, down 101 from the current year, island media report. During the last pre-Corona year 2019, there were 153 more.
On Mallorca, the debate between cruise tourism proponents and opponents has been raging for several years. While some point to the economic benefits for restaurants, hotels, cab companies and retailers, residents' associations, for example, dispute these benefits and instead complain about air pollution and overcrowding in the old town.
Up to and including September, just over one million cruise passengers had been counted in Palma's port, aboard 370 ships. During the last pre-Corona year, 2019, there were 2.2 million passengers on 590 ships.