Cannes, a French Riviera resort resort, has added what its city council calls “dramatic regulation” to the growing international backlash against overtourism, becoming the most well-known European destination.
On Friday, city councillors in Cannes approved a new cruise ship ban in its ports. A maximum of 6, 000 passengers will be able to board ships with less than 1, 000 passengers per day starting on January 1. On average, larger ships will ship passengers into Cannes to transfer them to smaller vessels.
On Sunday, two cruise ships, each significantly larger than the upcoming 1, 000-passenger limit and with a total capacity of more than 7, 000, were scheduled to dock in Cannes, a world-renowned film festival.
Cannes has gained significant economic benefits from its position as a major cruise ship port. Mayor David Lisnard stated in a statement that it is not about banning cruise ships but rather organizing, controlling, and setting guidelines for their navigation.
Such restrictions are harmful to both passengers and the cruise industry, according to cruise operators.
In addition to the restrictions on cruise ships, Venice, Barcelona, and Amsterdam are just a few cities in the area.
France is at the forefront of efforts to balance the economic benefits of tourism with environmental concerns while managing burgeoning crowds. It attracted 100 million visitors last year, more than any other European nation, and more than the country’s population.
Other French cities are taking action against overtourism in addition to Cannes and Nice.
Workers at the Louvre staged a strike on Monday in Paris to protest “untenable” working conditions, “chronic understaffing,” and “unmanageable crowds” brought on by overtourism, which they felt the museum’s infrastructure and current staffing levels could no longer manage.
In other European cities recently, there have been similar protests.
This weekend, protests against the wedding of Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez in Venice were held to raise awareness of wealth disparities and protest the city’s negative effects from mass tourism. In a city already grappling with mass tourism and environmental concerns, activists claimed that the lavish three-day event demonstrated the disregard for local residents’ needs, including affordable housing and essential services.
