Yes, tourism has its downside in Cobh, but benefits are huge

I went to Spain for the first time back in the mid-1970s, and I was made to feel very welcome.

The locals were happy to have me, and even happier to take my pesetas. I was glad to accept their hospitality and their sangria - but in recent times, their attitude seems to be changing.

Residents in some of the holiday spots around Europe have become less tolerant of tourists. Anti-tourism protests have been a common sight this summer, with demonstrations taking place in several countries such as Spain, Netherlands, Greece, and others.

In July, protesters marched through areas of Barcelona spraying visitors with water pistols while chanting “Tourists go home.”

More recently, thousands protested on the island of Mallorca, with locals bemoaning the lack of affordable housing, which they blame on short-term rentals, and overcrowding caused by the cruise ship industry.

Protests have erupted in the Canary Islands, Menorca and Malaga too. Amsterdam plans to ban cruise stops at its main terminal by 2035 and has also blocked new hotel development.

Tens of thousands of people in the Canary Islands have demanded a freeze on visitor numbers, because they say life is becoming unaffordable for residents.

Authorities in Mount Fuji, Japan, have introduced a daily visitor cap and charges hikers a toll for some trails. Bali charges a ‘tourist levy’, and in Iceland, the national government has reinstated its tourist tax.

Back in 2021, Venice took a decision to ban ships weighing more than 25,000 tonnes from entering certain areas because the heavyweight ships were causing damage to the ecosystem and eroding the old foundations of the palaces and the streets. The city was struggling to cope with the thousands of passengers crowding into Venice’s narrow streets.

Santorini also has an issue, with hordes of visitors invading the island, and authorities there have joined in calling for a cap on visitors. They say the growing number of foreign tourists is putting pressure on its outdated infrastructure, and is pricing islanders out of the housing market.

Many residents there complained about the noise levels, the clogged roads, and the pollution from the never-ending busloads of tourists.

Armed with selfie sticks and phones, the tourists flood in from everywhere to watch the island’s famed sunset, and many of Santorini’s 20,000 permanent residents have had enough.

I can understand that to a certain extent.

My wife and I spent a couple of weeks in Cinque Tierra in Italy last year. It was during August, peak holiday season, and the place was thronged with tourists. At times, it was difficult to walk around in comfort, especially when the cruise ships pulled into the small port.

It was uncomfortably busy on those occasions, and it must be irritating for the locals who still have to go about their daily business. Many of them, though, make a direct living from tourism and the area benefits too, so there needs to be a balance.

Thankfully, we don’t have that problem in Cork yet.

The natives still have a very healthy attitude towards cruise ships, particularly in Cobh, which is just as well because we play host to most of them.

There will be more than 100 liners paying a visit to the harbour town this season alone.

When Port of Cork announced its Cruise Liner Schedule for 2024 earlier this year, it showed an increase of 23% more vessels expected to visit the Cork and Cobh terminals.

An impressive 116 cruise vessels will call between April and November, surpassing the 2023 figure of 94 ships that brought 180,000 passengers to the region.

It is estimated that cruise tourism contributes €17 million to the local economy, and Toddy Stafford, President of Cobh & Harbour Chamber, shared his anticipation for the busy year ahead and said the increase in cruise calls this year is testament to the collaboration between Port of Cork and local stakeholders and businesses.

“We eagerly anticipate another successful season that will not only boost local trade and tourism through the influx of passengers and crew, but also bring a wave of visitors to Cobh to view these majestic cruise ships in Cork Harbour,” he said.

He’s right, of course, to be enthusiastic. We are unlikely to suffer from over-tourism in Cobh so we’ll happily take all the visitors we can get.

Most of these liners carry thousands of passengers, and on a sunny day, there is always a good atmosphere in the town, with tourists and locals mingling and enjoying the outdoor music.

Apart from the flow of passengers, the liners also attract other visitors to the town. The massive ships are an attraction in their own right and everyone is certainly made to feel welcome.

As the ships leave the port in the evening, the Cobh Confraternity Band usually gives a recital on the quayside to give the passengers a good send off.

Is there a downside? Of course there is, but nothing that’s insurmountable.

On days when the liners are visiting, parking around the town is a bit of a problem, but that’s not unusual. Parking in Cobh is a pain at the best of times.

A bigger issue is the amount of traffic getting on and off the island.

Thousands of passengers leave the cruise ships at the quayside to be ferried by buses to other tourist spots in the region. As they navigate a path through our infrastructure, they must pass over the island’s only bridge at Belvelly, which is several hundred years old and must be feeling the pressure.

We still have only one road into Cobh, so it doesn’t take much to create a blockage.

We’re still happy to see the liners though, and the local economy would take a hit if they stopped coming. Countries involved in over-tourism protests should be careful what they wish for.