Latest news with #MargaProhens
Local Spain
27-05-2025
- Automotive
- Local Spain
Mallorca's second home owners to be allowed only one car
One of the issues Spain's two archipelagos are facing on its most popular islands is the sheer amount of vehicles circulating in their relatively small territories. In 2024, there were reportedly 837,240 vehicles on the island of Mallorca, not far off the population total of 966,908 (the real population - including tourists - is 28 percent higher). Inevitably, more cars means higher levels of pollution, more frequent traffic jams and greater competition when vying for parking space. As a result, Mallorca's island council has decided that as of 2026 non-residents with a home in Mallorca should only be allowed one car per property, and provided that they pay road tax first. This measure will be established in the draft law to limit the entry of vehicles (including rental cars) to Mallorca, which will be presented in June. It follows other region-wide overtourism proposals presented by Balearic president Marga Prohens in March, including a hike in the so-called 'ecotax' or tourist tax, the creation of a new tax for non-resident vehicles and a pledge to implement stricter restrictions on holiday rental properties. This law is already in place in neighbouring Ibiza and, after being analysed in detail, will now be replicated in Mallorca "Non-residents of the island who own a home in Mallorca will be able to drive one vehicle per owner, provided that the vehicle is registered for tax purposes at that address," Mallorca's Council leader Llorenç Galmés confirmed. Galmés added that the new regulations will include a tax for vehicles that do not pay taxes in the Balearic Islands. Second home owners who wish to have a second vehicle on the island may still be able to but they will have to pay a penalty for it and it will likely be subject to time constraints. The overall goal is to reduce the presence of foreign-registered cars, which is increasing every year, adding further pressure to a road network with already more than 800,000 local vehicles. In 2023, up to 324,623 vehicles entered Mallorca's ports, 108 percent more than in 2017, as well as 55,000 freight carriers such as trucks. These 379,628 vehicles represented 40 percent of Mallorca's vehicles that year. Other data indicates that on a peak day in August, Mallorca's roads handle 1.3 million trips, and there are days when there are more than 75,000 rental cars driving around as well. Therefore studies conclude that on peak dates there are anywhere between 90,000 and 120,000 excess vehicles, too many for Mallorca's road network to take.
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Majorca plans to ‘ditch British tourists' – but will it work?
In a new 350-page 'sustainability pact' document, the Balearic government has outlined plans to 'reduce dependence on traditional tourist markets, specifically Germany and the UK'. The government of Majorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera has also announced plans to increase the Sustainable Tourism Tax on the island to up to €6 (£5) per night in peak months. According to the proposals, holiday vehicles on the islands will be taxed up to €80 depending on the length of stay. Unveiling the island group's sustainable tourism strategy, President Marga Prohens said that the island must 'abandon strategies based on high volumes and low prices'. However, the stated desire to reduce a dependence on British holidaymakers has led to concern in the UK. Our favourite holiday islands have now put it in pen and ink that they want fewer British tourists coming through the door. As the Balearic Islands' second-most loyal visitors (after the Germans), it is important for us to understand: why? Some have taken this rather personally. A number of British regional news sites and tabloid papers say the islands are planning to 'ditch British holidaymakers' and today's news about rising taxes will only sour things further. Could it be that there is a snobbish undertone behind the idea of 'reducing dependence' on British holidaymakers? I can certainly see how it's interpreted this way. Central to the Balearic Islands' plan is to pivot towards a higher-end tourism strategy, focusing on superior standards on a smaller scale. The insinuation, therefore, is that the pervading low-end mass tourism model is intertwined with the desires of the British holidaymaker. Like pie and mash, or sangria and roast beef, the two come as one. But perhaps this is just a statement of fact. Unchecked tourist development over many decades, and the British public's insatiable appetite for affordable beach breaks, have indeed created a landscape where cheap and cheerful Britishness is deeply ingrained in some resort towns across the Balearic Islands. Many of us will have witnessed this while abroad. Vests with 'Keep Calm and Drink Lager' written on them, restaurants advertising Premier League football, Union flags adorning 'British-owned' bars. Tourism accounts for nearly half of the island group's GDP, but now, it appears, they want a different sort of tourism. If they do want their loyal British market to be a part of that, this hasn't been communicated terribly clearly. It isn't the first time that a Spanish island has appeared to call last orders a long relationship with the British public. In 2023, Lucia Escribano, Majorca's director of tourism, said the island would not be promoting travel for summer 2023 because it was 'not interested in having… budget tourists from the UK – and we don't care if they go [instead] to Greece and Turkey'. Other Spanish islands have alluded to similar strategies. In 2023, María Dolores Corujo, Lanzarote's president, said the island must seek 'higher-quality holidaymakers who spend more when they're here' – French, Italian and Dutch tourists were singled out as target markets. Britain, alas, was not. Recent moves to scrap the 'golden visa' scheme that fast-tracked Spanish citizenship for British property owners felt like the final nail in the coffin. The messaging is clear: we are no longer wanted… right? Perhaps we ought to move out of the sun, have a tall, icy glass of water and look at the situation with a cooler head. Anna Nicholas, The Telegraph's Balearics expert, has her ear close to the sand on these sorts of things, and rejects the idea that there's any sort of targeted anti-British sentiment in the Balearics. 'I think it's about not putting all their eggs in a few baskets. Majorca relies very much on these two leading markets and frankly, always will, but it wants to diversify too,' she explains. Together, British and German tourists make up around two thirds of all tourists arriving in Majorca per year. 'There is absolutely no snobbish, anti-British tourist sentiment, although yobbish behaviour from a minority is frowned on,' Nicholas adds. In 2023, the Balearics government unveiled plans to fine holidaymakers €36,000 (£31,000) if they were found guilty of the highly dangerous act of balconing (jumping off a balcony into a pool). Some resorts popular with British visitors have introduced a six-drink daily cap. 'I am in constant touch with those in the tourist industry here and they covet British audiences,' says Nicholas, who lives on the island. 'There's a longstanding relationship between the UK and Majorca. It's more about upping the quality of visitor and dismissing the pile-'em-high kind of tourism that used to be the case in the likes of Magaluf or Arenal.' The process of moving away from a reliance on British markets may already be underway. 'We have an increasing number of Americans visiting Majorca with direct flights from NYC,' says Nicholas. 'There has been talk for some time of US hubs expanding to incorporate Washington DC, Miami, LA and Chicago, but nothing thus far. Last summer, when I visited hotels island-wide, I noticed an increasing number of American, Canadian and even Australian and Asian visitors.' To understand the latest messaging from the Balearic government, we ought to look at the wider context. The Balearic Islands are among the most popular tourist destinations in Europe, attracting more than 15 million visitors per year. But decades of tourism growth and the relentless rise of self-catering accommodation platforms such as Airbnb have changed the fabric of the islands. As a result, the Balearics have been at the epicentre of a wave of mass tourism protests. Last year alone, demonstrators occupied multiple beaches in Majorca, prevented tourist access to popular coves, and marched in their thousands in Palma de Majorca to call for more sustainable tourism. Similar protests have occurred across the Canary Islands and on mainland Spain. Alongside the plans to reduce dependence on British tourists, on March 7 the Balearic government outlined a range of new taxation measures. The Sustainable Tourism Tax will range from €1-6 per night depending on the time of the year, and a new tax on cruise ships will see passengers paying between €2 and €6 per night. Along with a new vehicle tax, there are plans in the offing to ban tourist cars from driving through certain towns that are particularly affected by traffic congestion. The Balearic government is also taking measures to ban new tourist accommodation in multi-family residential homes, and aims to clamp down on illegal self-catering rentals by increasing fines of up to €500,000. Looking ahead to a busy summer season, the Balearic government will hope that this suite of measures will bring about meaningful change across the islands. They will also hope to show demonstrators that they are listening, and taking tangible strides to improve things on the islands. But next time they might want to spell it out that British loyalists do form part of those plans, in some capacity. Like sunburnt shoulders, or a frontal lobe after a night on the town, it turns out we can be rather sensitive about these things. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. 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Telegraph
07-03-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
The truth behind Majorca's plans to ‘ditch British tourists'
In a new 350-page 'sustainability pact' document, the Balearic government has outlined plans to 'reduce dependence on traditional tourist markets, specifically Germany and the UK'. The government of Majorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera has also announced plans to increase the Sustainable Tourism Tax on the island to up to €6 (£5) per night in peak months. According to the proposals, holiday vehicles on the islands will be taxed up to €80 depending on the length of stay. Unveiling the island group's sustainable tourism strategy, President Marga Prohens said that the island must 'abandon strategies based on high volumes and low prices'. However, the stated desire to reduce a dependence on British holidaymakers has led to concern in the UK. Our favourite holiday islands have now put it in pen and ink that they want fewer British tourists coming through the door. As the Balearic Islands' second-most loyal visitors (after the Germans), it is important for us to understand: why? Anti-British snobbishness? Some have taken this rather personally. A number of British regional news sites and tabloid papers say the islands are planning to 'ditch British holidaymakers' and today's news about rising taxes will only sour things further. Could it be that there is a snobbish undertone behind the idea of 'reducing dependence' on British holidaymakers? I can certainly see how it's interpreted this way. Central to the Balearic Islands' plan is to pivot towards a higher-end tourism strategy, focusing on superior standards on a smaller scale. The insinuation, therefore, is that the pervading low-end mass tourism model is intertwined with the desires of the British holidaymaker. Like pie and mash, or sangria and roast beef, the two come as one. But perhaps this is just a statement of fact. Unchecked tourist development over many decades, and the British public's insatiable appetite for affordable beach breaks, have indeed created a landscape where cheap and cheerful Britishness is deeply ingrained in some resort towns across the Balearic Islands. Many of us will have witnessed this while abroad. Vests with 'Keep Calm and Drink Lager' written on them, restaurants advertising Premier League football, Union flags adorning 'British-owned' bars. Tourism accounts for nearly half of the island group's GDP, but now, it appears, they want a different sort of tourism. If they do want their loyal British market to be a part of that, this hasn't been communicated terribly clearly. It isn't the first time that a Spanish island has appeared to call last orders a long relationship with the British public. In 2023, Lucia Escribano, Majorca's director of tourism, said the island would not be promoting travel for summer 2023 because it was 'not interested in having… budget tourists from the UK – and we don't care if they go [instead] to Greece and Turkey'. Other Spanish islands have alluded to similar strategies. In 2023, María Dolores Corujo, Lanzarote's president, said the island must seek 'higher-quality holidaymakers who spend more when they're here' – French, Italian and Dutch tourists were singled out as target markets. Britain, alas, was not. Recent moves to scrap the 'golden visa' scheme that fast-tracked Spanish citizenship for British property owners felt like the final nail in the coffin. The messaging is clear: we are no longer wanted… right? A need to diversify Perhaps we ought to move out of the sun, have a tall, icy glass of water and look at the situation with a cooler head. Anna Nicholas, The Telegraph 's Balearics expert, has her ear close to the sand on these sorts of things, and rejects the idea that there's any sort of targeted anti-British sentiment in the Balearics. 'I think it's about not putting all their eggs in a few baskets. Majorca relies very much on these two leading markets and frankly, always will, but it wants to diversify too,' she explains. Together, British and German tourists make up around two thirds of all tourists arriving in Majorca per year. 'There is absolutely no snobbish, anti-British tourist sentiment, although yobbish behaviour from a minority is frowned on,' Nicholas adds. In 2023, the Balearics government unveiled plans to fine holidaymakers €36,000 (£31,000) if they were found guilty of the highly dangerous act of balconing (jumping off a balcony into a pool). Some resorts popular with British visitors have introduced a six-drink daily cap. 'I am in constant touch with those in the tourist industry here and they covet British audiences,' says Nicholas, who lives on the island. 'There's a longstanding relationship between the UK and Majorca. It's more about upping the quality of visitor and dismissing the pile-'em-high kind of tourism that used to be the case in the likes of Magaluf or Arenal.' The process of moving away from a reliance on British markets may already be underway. 'We have an increasing number of Americans visiting Majorca with direct flights from NYC,' says Nicholas. 'There has been talk for some time of US hubs expanding to incorporate Washington DC, Miami, LA and Chicago, but nothing thus far. Last summer, when I visited hotels island-wide, I noticed an increasing number of American, Canadian and even Australian and Asian visitors.' An anti-tourist backlash To understand the latest messaging from the Balearic government, we ought to look at the wider context. The Balearic Islands are among the most popular tourist destinations in Europe, attracting more than 15 million visitors per year. But decades of tourism growth and the relentless rise of self-catering accommodation platforms such as Airbnb have changed the fabric of the islands. As a result, the Balearics have been at the epicentre of a wave of mass tourism protests. Last year alone, demonstrators occupied multiple beaches in Majorca, prevented tourist access to popular coves, and marched in their thousands in Palma de Majorca to call for more sustainable tourism. Similar protests have occurred across the Canary Islands and on mainland Spain. Alongside the plans to reduce dependence on British tourists, on March 7 the Balearic government outlined a range of new taxation measures. The Sustainable Tourism Tax will range from €1-6 per night depending on the time of the year, and a new tax on cruise ships will see passengers paying between €2 and €6 per night. Along with a new vehicle tax, there are plans in the offing to ban tourist cars from driving through certain towns that are particularly affected by traffic congestion. The Balearic government is also taking measures to ban new tourist accommodation in multi-family residential homes, and aims to clamp down on illegal self-catering rentals by increasing fines of up to €500,000. Looking ahead to a busy summer season, the Balearic government will hope that this suite of measures will bring about meaningful change across the islands. They will also hope to show demonstrators that they are listening, and taking tangible strides to improve things on the islands. But next time they might want to spell it out that British loyalists do form part of those plans, in some capacity. Like sunburnt shoulders, or a frontal lobe after a night on the town, it turns out we can be rather sensitive about these things.
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Majorca could impose taxes on low-cost flights in tourism crackdown
Placing limits on 'low-cost flights' during peak tourist seasons - which could see an environmental tax being introduced - in the Balearic Islands, is among the measures being discovered by the government for the Spanish destination. The Balearic Islands, including Majorca and Menorca, could place limits on 'low-cost flights' during peak tourist seasons - which could see an environmental tax being introduced. It's among the measures being discussed by the Balearic government as it looks at ways to change its tourism model. On Thursday, February 27, government parties met to discuss sustainability in the islands, including 'measures aimed at reducing tourist pressure on infrastructure, natural resources and local quality of life', Majorca Daily Bulletin reports. READ MORE: Gene Hackman: 911 call revealed as police give update on grim finds inside home READ MORE: UK tourists in Canary Islands issued 'rife' warning after dozens hit in holiday hotspots President Marga Prohens warned that measures needed to be taken otherwise "the current scenario based on the volume of visitors, overcrowding and intensive exploitation of resources will continue". One option that has been raised is the impact of low-cost flights and the number of tourists they bring to the islands. One proposal, according to reports, is to limit these flights during the high season. It's been met with questions over feasibility as the regional government doesn't have "authority" over the airports and the movements of planes. But one option is to propose 'an environmental tax on tourist flights'. According to Majorca Daily Bulletin, it is 'questionable' whether the Balearic Government can impose such a tax as air transport is a 'state responsibility'. Other proposals include limiting the number of vehicles entering the islands. Regarding tourist tax, the present 'is still minded to increase the rate for this year's high season', although there's significant doubt that it will be introduced in time. The current plan is to restructure the tax so it increases based on seasonal demand. Last year protests took place across the Balearic Islands and other Spanish destinations as residents raised concerns over the impact of mass-tourism. At the time President Prohens said 'limits needed to be set' when it comes to tourists. For more of today's top stories, click here.
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Mallorca anti-tourism group plans to step up campaign this year amid housing crisis
A Spanish group campaigning against overtourism has called on its members to 'regroup' and 'redouble' its efforts against the impact the tourist industry has on island residents. Menys Turisme, Més Vida (Less Tourism, More Life) has called for a meeting on 15 February at a school in Mallorca for training and workshops ahead of the peak tourist season. The campaign group said it would 'intensify' its actions in response to an announcement of a billion-euro investment into the tourist sector, the rise of real estate and luxury tourism speculation while the housing crisis continues to worsen. The group was behind a large anti-tourist protest that filled the streets in Palma de Mallorca last summer against skyrocketing housing prices in the wake of a tourist boom on the popular holiday island. Around 10,000 protesters showed up to take part on 21 July, with people walking with models of planes, cruise ships and posters reading 'no to mass tourism' and 'stop private jets'. The group has now called out Balearic authorities and claimed they were prioritising investing in the tourist sector rather than infrastructure that would benefit permanent residents. 'While the Balearic Government exceeds the billionaire investments of 1.12bn euros to defend tourist interests, the public infrastructure, healthcare, the territory... is on the verge of collapse,' it wrote in a translated statement on social media. President of the Balearic Islands, Marga Prohens, announced last month that 1.12bn euros is to be spent on tourism sustainability and modernisation in the Balearics, Majorca Daily Bulletin reported. 'While the tourist lobby continues to get rich and prices skyrocket, wages are stagnant and the living conditions of the working class continue to become more precarious,' the group continued. 'The extraordinary measures of the state are nothing more than anaesthetics to not solve the problem. 'And the sustainability pact is nothing more than a strategy that only wastes time. 'That's why on 15 February we will meet again to regroup and redouble our commitment to continue collectively building the alternative to this socioeconomic model.' Menys Turisme, Més Vida says that the profits of tourism companies grow twice as much as the wages of workers. 'While they make us believe that we live off tourism, the reality is different,' it said. 'Workers are getting poorer, salaries are not rising… and are not enough for housing.' Speaking to Reuters last year amid the large-scale protests, Pere Joan Femenia, of Menys Turisme, Més Vida, said that mass tourism was making it difficult for local people to afford to live on their own island. "We want to cut mass tourism and to ban non-residents from buying houses which are just used for a few months a year or for speculation."
