The Balearic Islands are set to limit tourist numbers and charge more to visit this summer as leaders warn a record 18 million visitors in 2024 was the ‘limit’
Holidaymakers heading to Spain’s beloved destinations might have to dig a little deeper into their pockets this summer, as local authorities are mulling over new laws to manage the expected deluge of tourists. With places like Mallorca, Menorca, and Ibiza bracing for an estimated 20 million visitors, Balearic officials are debating “tourism containment” strategies to prevent “uncontrolled overcrowding.”
This Friday, the archipelago’s ruling People’s Party is gearing up to bring forward a slew of fresh regulations, including a possible new tax on overnight stays and enhanced police authority to crack down on illegal holiday lets.
Among the considered measures is a potential prohibition on foreign vehicles in Mallorca, echoing steps already taken on other Balearic islands such as Ibiza and Formentera. However, legislators will need to tread carefully when tipping the scales, with tourism revenue hitting a whopping £18 billion last year, making up a hefty 43 per cent of the region’s economy.
In a drastic move to tackle overcrowding and the strain on local rent prices due to the surging holiday rental market, government officials are mulling over options such as limiting airport arrivals or slapping additional taxes on certain hotspots or activities. This is aimed at diverting the hordes of tourists flocking to popular destinations.
Tourism Minister Jaume Bauza, in light of 2024’s record tourism figures, expressed concern, stating: “We have certainly reached our limit.”
Bauza supports measures to control or curb tourist numbers, adding: “For some time now, the Government has considered that the only way we have to grow is by doing so in quality and not in quantity, and we believe that it is possible to make a transition towards a more sustainable model that is committed to the environment.”
The Balearic Islands’ politicians are responding to intense public outcry, with residents protesting the effects of overtourism on local amenities and housing – tensions peaked last summer when demonstrators invaded beaches, demanding tourists to “go home.”
Despite these protests, recent reports reveal a surge in holiday bookings for the Balearics, with a staggering 20 per cent increase in just one week, as sun-seekers fed up with February’s dreariness opt for an island escape.
The escalating situation has prompted a likely consensus among political parties, with even the opposition socialist party (PSOE) in the islands criticising the “excess” of tourists. Llorenç Pou, the Balearic PSOE’s head of economic affairs, told El Mundo: “Tourism is positive and our economic future depends on it,” but he also pointed out that “But this wealth is not distributed as it should be and overcrowding generates social and environmental costs; there is an excess of tourists.”
Despite similar measures being adopted across Europe and other Spanish regions, questions remain about the effectiveness of these financial deterrents in curbing the surge in visitor numbers and the associated spike in rental prices.
Reflecting local concerns, one resident pondered, “What if instead of banning [tourists], they start building public housing?”.