A Cadiz tour guide has sparked a fierce debate after claiming cruise ships are the city’s ‘biggest tourism problem’ because they bring congestion while contributing almost nothing to the local economy.

Javier, who runs the popular social media account @javielitoguia, criticised the growing number of cruise passengers arriving in the historic Andalucian city.

He argued that they overwhelm the streets without spending enough money to justify their impact.

‘The biggest problem with tourism in Cadiz is cruise ships,’ he said in a video shared online.

‘Hundreds of ships come to Cadiz every year, bringing thousands of people who clog up the streets.’

He continued: ‘The benefit for local people is zero. Cruise passengers arrive with their food already paid for, their excursions already paid for, and in the end all they do is fill the city without leaving any real benefit.’

According to Javier, the influx of cruise visitors is changing the character of Cadiz.

‘This is what turns our city into a theme park,’ he said. ‘Many businesses end up selling cheap souvenirs because that’s all these people buy.’

He added: ‘We’re already suffering enough from congestion in our streets because they’re packed with cruise passengers.

‘We already have a city full of visitors. At the very least, it should be healthy tourism that leaves money and supports the city – not turns us into a funfair for cruise passengers.’

The video quickly racked up thousands of views, but while many locals agreed, a large number pushed back, accusing the guide of ignoring the jobs and income generated by the cruise industry.

One official tour guide wrote: ‘Please, inform yourself a little better before spreading inflammatory messages against your own profession.

‘I am an official guide and I work with these cruise ships. Who do you think is working with these passengers? Local people from Cadiz. Tour guides, coach drivers, port security staff, office workers…’

He added that before becoming a guide he worked as a chef and always noticed a boost in business whenever cruise ships arrived.

‘Tourism, whether we like it or not, generates a huge economic impact for many families, including mine,’ he wrote.

Another commenter argued the guide was ‘very mistaken’, claiming cruise passengers spend an average of around €50 each while ashore.

‘They do leave money in Cadiz,’ he said.

‘Behind every cruise ship are tour guides, coach drivers, port agents, companies supplying food and drink, fuel providers, waste management firms and many more.’

He also pointed to another often-overlooked benefit.

‘Thanks to cruise tourism, Cadiz’s shipyards have found an important source of work,’ he wrote, explaining that many vessels undergo maintenance and repairs during their stopovers, creating thousands of hours of employment in the city’s metal industry.

‘The debate should be based on data and balance, not prejudice.’

Others argued that cruise passengers are not the city’s biggest problem at all.

‘The biggest issue is local people being pushed out because of soaring house prices,’ one person wrote.

‘The entire Spanish coast has become one giant Airbnb. It’s almost impossible to live where you did 10 years ago because nothing has been done to control tourism from wealthier European visitors.’

Another Cadiz resident challenged Javier’s portrayal of overcrowding.

‘I live in the centre of Cadiz, near the port, and I don’t see the congestion you describe,’ he wrote.

‘I’ve seen that in cities like Venice, Bruges and Florence, but not here.’

He added that cruise passengers are regularly seen eating in local restaurants, shopping in markets and clothes stores and visiting museums.

‘As of today, the situation is not alarming,’ he concluded.

The debate comes amid growing tensions across Spain over the impact of mass tourism, with cruise ships becoming an increasingly contentious issue in several port cities.

While critics argue day-trippers place pressure on historic centres without spending enough locally, supporters say the industry supports thousands of jobs both directly and indirectly, from hospitality and transport to ship repairs and port services.

Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.