Barcelona, the capital and largest city of Spain's Catalonia Autonomous Region, is preparing to reduce the number of cruise ships that can call at its central port in order to "combat overtourism". Accordingly, the number of ships that can dock at the port at any given time will be reduced from 10 to 7. Some piers in the city, such as the Muelle Barcelona Norte north dock and the World Trade Center, will also be closed to the central port altogether, and cruise ships will be asked to dock in the southern port instead. Passengers will have to take a 30-minute shuttle bus from the remaining open piers to the city center. According to Cruise Industry News, the initiative aims to reduce exhaust fumes around the city center. The new rules are expected to take effect from October 22.