The pretty European island Britons love under threat from influx of 'mega-cruise ships'
Several cities in Europe have either entirely banned or curbed the number of cruise ships that can reach their city centre.
A pretty European island is being threatened by the influx of cruise ships docking there.
The recent arrival to the port of Palma, the capital of the Spanish island of Mallorca, of two mega-cruise ships infuriated a campaigning group.
The Plataforma Contra Los Megacruceros claimed on Wednesday that the presence of these ships in the port worsened the air quality in the area.
The organisation's claim was based on data gathered from a sensor installed in the neighbourhood of Foners.
The sensor recorded particulate matter pollution values falling within the "poor" air quality range, Plataforma said in a statement.
The message also read: "These values also exceed the limits set for these particles by the European Union and the WHO."
The group went on to demand setting "limits to a model that is harmful to the environment and people's health".
The organisation also said the two mega-cruises, believed to have a combined capacity of more than 12,000 passengers, were in "breach" of an agreement limiting the number of similar vessels in the port to one a day.
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Plataforma referred to a deal struck between the CLIA Cruise Lines International Association and the Balearic government in 2022.
The agreement states that, until 2026, no more than three cruise ships per day can stop over Palma.
Of them, only one can be a mega-cruise ship - a vessel with a capacity of more than 5,000 passengers.
A similar breach had already happened on September 22, the group said.
Mallorca sees more than 13 million tourists visit every year with Palma a popular holiday spot.
The capital city boasts the breathtaking Santa Maria Cathedral, rows of beautiful streets and of course, plenty of tapas bars to try local cuisine.
Palma is one of the many seaside resorts trying to push out cruise ships of the city centre.
On Thursday, Barcelona closed down one of its central piers for cruise ships, a move that will force these vessels to dock further out from its centre.
In July, Italy's Venice banned cruise ships weighing more than 25,000 tonnes from entering its lagoon.