More than 40 organizations are asking the Balearic Government to take action against the restrictions on cruise ships imposed by the Balearic City Council.
PIMEM and Pimeco defend environmental investments and warn that new restrictions would jeopardize employment and commercial activity
PalmMore than 40 entities, including associations and companies such as the Federation of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises of Mallorca (PIMEM) and the Association of Small and Medium-Sized Businesses (Pimeco), presented a manifesto on Tuesday in Cort for the continuity and stability of the cruise tourism in Mallorca. They also ask that the Government be a "proactive ally", contrary to the view they have of the Palma City Council.
The groups expressed their rejection of the City Council's policies in the Plaza de Cort, specifically their intentions to restrict the arrival of cruise ships to the Balearic capital.
The platform has argued that the sector began a pioneering transition some time ago and made a clear commitment to developing new, pioneering technologies to comply with international regulations.
The Platform's spokesperson, Álex Fraile, asserted that this isn't about promises but about multi-million euro investments, citing as examples that many of the ships now arriving in Palma already operate on Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), which reduces emissions and particulate matter, as well as electrification. "If the Government and the Port Authority accelerate this, the ships will shut off their engines in port and eliminate smog in the city. It's illogical that shipping companies are getting ahead of the curve while Spanish ports aren't equipped for electrical connections," she added.
This is the most compelling economic argument, according to the platform. For the association, cruises are not just a product linked to sun and sand. "It's about supporting many workers and small businesses, commerce, restaurants, guides, private transportation, taxis, and travel agencies," added Frare, who pointed out that the upper-middle-class cruise passenger seeking culture and gastronomy outside of peak season is the profile the Balearic Islands need to avoid relying solely on sun and sand tourism.
"Aggressive" social dialogue
According to the platform itself, the "aggressive" social dialogue has decreased in intensity due to the agreements on limitations. They added that three cruise ships a day significantly reduced the number of stairs and passengers, and that these limitations were strictly adhered to. Furthermore, they also highlighted the factor of economic realism, emphasizing the importance of greater awareness that "banning without alternatives is dangerous for local employment." For Álex Fraile, "the disappearance of direct confrontation offers us a historic opportunity to work through public-private collaboration." To ensure the long-term viability of this initiative, the "Yes to Cruises" platform has asked the Balearic Government to share data, invest the Sustainable Tourism Tax (ITS) in electrifying the docks, and use technology to prevent tourists from congregating in the same place at the same time.
“We need the Government to be a proactive ally. Investing in cruises means investing in a modern, technologically advanced industry capable of sustaining our economy when the rest of the tourism sector is at a standstill. Ultimately, it’s a matter of responsibility and the future,” he concluded. PIMEM has expressed its full support for the platform. Its president, Jordi Mora, asserted that it is a mistake to oppose this sector, “which has best understood the steps it must take to create a sustainable offering.”
Mora has requested that the agreements previously reached between the sector and the Administration be respected. For her part, Carolina Domingo, president of Pimeco and vice president of PIMEM, argued that cruise tourism is a key element for Palma's commercial dynamism, especially during the off-season. She explained that the reduction in the number of stairs has an immediate impact on small and medium-sized businesses, which depend heavily on this influx of visitors to maintain their activity during the winter months. "Shops, restaurants, services, transportation, and hundreds of small businesses benefit from an activity that they consider complementary but essential," Domingo concluded.