The mayor of Nice, France, intends to prohibit large cruise ships—specifically those carrying over 900 passengers or exceeding 190 meters in length—from docking in the city starting July 1. Christian Estrosi labels these vessels as contributors to "overtourism" and pollution. The decision is expected to significantly affect the nearby Villefranche-sur-Mer, where larger cruise ships currently operate. Estrosi has previously restricted ferry schedules in the area and now aims to evaluate which scheduled cruise visits can be canceled as part of these new regulations.
"Tourism, yes, overtourism, no," Estrosi said in a speech to Nice residents earlier this week. "The cruises that pollute and dump their low-cost clientele who consume nothing, but leave their waste behind ... these cruises have no place with us."
For several years, Estrosi has fought against pollution caused by large vessels in the port of Nice, which, unlike many other Mediterranean cities, is surrounded by residential streets.
While geography and location mean Nice rarely welcomes vessels bigger than Estrosi's proposed new limits, the neighboring town of Villefranche-sur-Mer is set to feel this decision the most.
The city has said it is looking at what cruise visits can be canceled as of this summer and those that cannot be, according to the local newspaper Nice Matin.
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