The French Riviera resort of Cannes will ban cruise ships with more than 1000 people from its harbour from next year as its city council imposes “drastic regulation”.

The home of the world’s premier film festival is joining a growing global backlash against overtourism, epitomised recently by the uproar at last weekend’s wedding of Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez in Venice, water-gun protests in Spain and a surprise strike at the Louvre Museum.

“Less numerous, less big, less polluting and more aesthetic” – that’s the aim of Cannes city councillors who voted last Friday to introduce limits on cruise ships in its ports from January 1.

Cannes has a population of only 75,000, but regularly attracts hordes of visitors due to the film festival and its location on the picturesque French Riviera.

Only ships with fewer than 1000 passengers will be allowed in the port, with a maximum of 6000 passengers disembarking every day. Larger ships will be expected to transfer passengers to smaller boats to enter Cannes.

France – which had about 100 million visitors last year, more than any other European country and more than its own population – is on the front line of efforts to balance economic benefits of tourism with environmental concerns while managing ever-growing crowds.

“Cannes has become a major cruise ship destination, with real economic benefits,” Mayor David Lisnard said.

“It’s not about banning cruise ships, but about regulating, organising, setting guidelines for their navigation.”

Cruise operators have called such restrictions damaging for destinations and for passengers.

Two cruise ships were scheduled to dock in Cannes on Sunday (local time), each bigger than the looming 1000-passenger limit and with a combined capacity of more than 7000 people. Their owners did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the new restrictions.

The nearby Mediterranean city of Nice announced limits on cruise ships earlier this year, as have some other European cities.

-with AAP