Alicante politicians demand study on cruise tourism impact

The political group Esquerra Unida Podem in the Alicante City Council has called for an independent study to assess the true impact of cruise tourism on the city. The group is challenging the local government's presentation of record-breaking cruise passenger numbers as an unqualified success.

While a recent economic and social impact study estimated a €65.65 million economic impact for 2024, EU Podem argues that this figure fails to account for the environmental and urban costs incurred by the city. Spokesperson Manolo Copé stated that the current reporting focuses on economic benefits without subtracting the associated costs, and criticized the lack of quantified data regarding the specific environmental footprint left by visiting vessels.