Palma waterbus plan sparks Portitxol tourism fears
Palma, Mallorca: a planned waterbus link to Portitxol raises fears that cruise tourism could spread into the residential area of Molinar. MÉS per Palma said on Thursday, 1 October, that the Popular Party and the Balearic Islands Port Authority are putting cruise passengers ahead of local travel. The party points to a timetable that starts two cruise-focused routes before the service open to everyone.
Cruise routes come first
The port authority’s timetable has lines 2 and 3 starting on 1 November. MÉS says they are aimed at cruise passengers. Line 1, an internal service open to the public with passes for residents, is due to start later.
MÉS also says the temporary operator has committed to carrying at least 300 passengers an hour between the cruise terminal and central Palma. David Pujol, the party’s candidate for mayor, says the scheme was presented as a way to ease the city’s transport problems but is instead being shaped around cruise travel.
Concern spreads to Molinar
Pujol fears the proposed Portitxol connection would carry that tourist pressure further from the port and towards Molinar. MÉS wants transport policy to focus on residents’ daily journeys, cutting traffic and providing alternatives to private cars.
The party says other maritime businesses have warned that the waterbus could turn into a service for tourist boat trips. They want the next tender to restrict that possibility.
More on this topic: Traffic on Mallorca
Topics: Tourism · Traffic · Politics · Palma
Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com