Politicians in Mallorca have put proposals to parliament that, if adopted, would reduce tourism on the island and cut tourist accommodation by 40%.
The plan put forward by Més per Mallorca (More for Mallorca) includes several restrictions or “containment measures” that are aimed at, over time, the “degrowth” of tourism on the largest of the Spanish Balearic Islands. Those strategies include placing limits on tourist beds, and on numbers of tourists themselves, plus action on private aviation and on cruise ship numbers.
Accommodation, promotions, private jets and cruises – all targeted
Tourist accommodation capacity would be slashed 40% under the new regime but demand would also be limited through a proposed yearly cap on visitor numbers. What’s more, all promotional activity by the government to sell Mallorca as a destination would cease, as would any official representation at travel and tourism conferences and trade events.
And under the sustainability banner, private jets would be prohibited at Balearic airports, summer season flight schedules would be curtailed, and a maximum of 4000 cruise ship passengers from one ship alone per day would be able to visit Palma. Meanwhile, part of the revenues from the Sustainable Tourism Tax should go towards compulsory purchases of tourist accommodation to be returned to the long-term rental market in places where housing stock is low.
“Excessive” burden on society
Spain is in the midst of an overtourism crisis that has seen waves of protests across the nation, with locals protesting in the streets, telling tourists to go home, putting up guerilla signage warning of fake dangers on beaches and spraying tourists with water pistols. Residents have complained that they are priced out of housing dominated by short term rentals, that public transport is too crowded for people who rely on it to use, and that antisocial or drunken behaviour is affecting the tone of their neighbourhoods.
In addition, in the face of some of the worst droughts and wildfires on record, the (over)use of water to service tourist hotels and golfing infrastructure has caused existential questions over how resources are allocated.
Accusing President Prohens of failing to get a grip on the issues at hand, Més for Mallorca spokesperson Lluís Apesteguia said that tourism that exceeds the Mediterranean island’s capacity is placing an “excessive” burden on its economy. “The containment measures announced by Prohens are insufficient in the face of the collapse situation we are living in, it is essential to make policies to reduce tourism and economic diversification,” Apesteguia said.
