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A Spanish island, which is a favoured destination for British tourists, is preparing to cap visitor numbers during the summer season.

Under a new arrangement, the stunning city of Palma in Mallorca will slash the number of daily cruise ship berths from 8,500 to 7,500 between June and September. This means fewer passengers will be disembarking to discover the Spanish city when the measures take effect from 2027 to 2029.

The ship berths will remain at 8,500 outside the summer season, but a reduction of 1,000 during one of the busiest travel periods is set to affectholidaymakers visiting Palma via a cruise. Over 19 million Brits travelled to Spain alone last year, whilst Mallorca is estimated to have attracted more than 2 million UK visitors, reports the Express.

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The summer restrictions in Palma will conclude in 2029, although the arrangement with the Balearic Government, Palma City Council and 20 cruise lines remains in place until 2031. The arrangement aims at "regulating cruise activity and protecting the interests of the city, particularly in the historic centre", according to local news publication Majorca Daily Bulletin.

There will be a limit of three cruise ships permitted to dock in the Port of Palma each day, with only one vessel per day allowed to transport more than 5,000 passengers. The new arrangement follows concerns about overtourism in the region, which could also trigger a fresh wave of protests from residents this summer.

Thousands of Spanish locals have taken to the streets in protest during previous years and may do so again amid claims the Balearic Government's sustainability pact has failed, and overcrowding on the islands remains uncontrolled. A statement released earlier this year, prior to a demonstration, declared: "The constant increase in overtourism in Mallorca can only be confronted through grassroots organisation".

Speaking to Majorca Daily News, Margalida Ramis from environmental organisation GOB (Grup Balear d'Ornitologia i Defensa de la Naturalesa) alleged that the government "has not done anything and will not do anything" to tackle overtourism in the area.

Tourist numbers to the Balearic Islands have continued rising, with 18.7 million arrivals in 2024 and over 19 million the year after. The local population is approximately 1.2 million, including roughly 18,000 British expats.

In an attempt to address overtourism, the opposition party PSOE put forward a proposal in the Balearic parliament, calling for visitor numbers to be limited to 17.8 million annually. However, the proposal was rejected earlier this year.

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