Cannes bringing in 'drastic regulation' on cruise ships

The French Riviera resort of Cannes is bringing in "drastic regulation" on cruise ships, with any vessels carrying more than 1,000 people to be banned from its harbour.

Known for the iconic annual film festival, Cannes is a glamourous holiday spot on the southern French coast popular with British tourists and expats.

But now it's joining Venice and other European destinations in the backlash against overtourism, which recently saw uproar over Jeff Bezos's wedding and celebrations in Venice, water-gun protests in Spain and a surprise strike at the Louvre Museum in Paris.

Cannes city councillors on Friday voted to introduce new limits - "drastic regulation", they called it - on cruise ships in its ports starting from next year.

Only ships with fewer than 1,000 passengers will be allowed in the port, with a maximum of 6,000 passengers disembarking per day.

Larger ships will be expected to transfer passengers to smaller boats to enter Cannes.

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"Cannes has become a major cruise ship destination, with real economic benefits. It's not about banning cruise ships, but about regulating, organising, setting guidelines for their navigation," Mayor David Lisnard said.

In 2021, Italy approved a decree to ban cruise ships from central Venice, following calls from residents for years.

(c) Sky News 2025: Cannes bringing in 'drastic regulation' on cruise ships