While 2 years ago people wore worrying about the tourism industry dying out, the lifting of the coronavirus travel restrictions has brought the exact opposite issue to the attention of authorities: overtourism.
Famous destinations around the world are now taking measures to reduce the number of tourists they receive. Venice has long ago banned cruise ships from the city centre and reduced the number of souvenir shops, with the famous day-trip tax being applied from 16 January 2023. Barcelona is also among the destinations tackling overtourism.
Mallorca is joining the group, in an attempt to switch tourism trends to “greater value and less volume”. “The recurring debate about overcrowding is back”, said Catalina Cladera, President of the Mallorca Council.
The first measure is to reduce the number of hotel beds available across the island, according to a plan released by the Mallorca Council earlier this week. The aim is to cap the number of available hotel beds to 430,000 over the entire island.
I won’t deny it, there has been overcrowding this summer. However, only in some places and at certain times.
Catalina Cladera, President of the Mallorca Council
The way available hotel rooms are marketed will also be under supervision. There will also be an increase in tourism inspectors to crack down on illegal holiday rentals. In line with the “better value” tourists, some resorts have already started taken action this summer, implementing dress code for accessing certain areas, like no football shirts in restaurants.
This type of restrictions is becoming more and more common across the Balearic Islands, especially to deter drunken tourists to change their reputation from party destinations and focus more on sustainable tourism and the multiple wellness and eco-resorts.
