SPAIN
BC Tours, part of National Express-owned Alsa and specialising in providing tourist services for cruise ships, is introducing nine eco-friendly Karsan Atak buses this summer for shuttle services for MSC Cruises customers in the ports of Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca and Valencia.
The new vehicles, which run on 100% battey power or use hybrid motors to ensure zero or minimal exhaust pollution, will be transferring MSC Cruises’ passengers from the arrival dock to the city centre, where they will begin their tours during their stopovers. By introducing eco-friendly buses, BC Tours says it is bolstering its commitment to sustainable, environmentally responsible tourism, which it shares with the MSC as part of the commitment to sustainability made by the cruise industry globally.
Meanwhile, in the Bay of Santander, Alsa is launching a new tourism initiative for the summer season, with excursions around the bay aboard a 100% zero-emission boat as a further sign of its commitment to supporting sustainable tourism.
The excursions will use the Ecocat II, a catamaran powered by solar energy designed to cause minimal impact to the local environment, marine fauna and water quality. The excursion lasts one hour, and offers visitors the chance to see some of the most significant points in the bay such as the Cantabrian Maritime Museum, the Magdalena Peninsula, the Isla de la Torre (Tower Island) and the Botín Centre, offering seven departures per day in high season.
