The number of cruise ships docking at the centrally located Port de la Lune has doubled over the past decade. The authorities have previously limited the allowed number, but now Pierre Hurmic hopes for a total ban.
Large parts of the city center are included on UNESCO's World Heritage List, and residents have complained that the tourist ships are polluting and destroying the beautiful cityscape. The authorities in Bordeaux now want the ships to be moored further north, further away from the culturally listed sites in the center.
Cruise passengers generate significant revenue, which makes such proposals to move the ships away from the center controversial – as in previous similar debates in world cities like Hong Kong and Venice. Representatives of the Bordeaux Chamber of Commerce have warned that it could have negative consequences for businesses.
