Mass tourism has long been a problem in the Balearic Islands. The Prime Minister has now announced further measures against this.
Palma de Mallorca – There are often tourist taxes in popular holiday destinations to counteract the negative effects of mass tourism. Venice was one of the first cities to introduce two such taxes: since 2011, overnight guests have been paying a bed tax, and since April 25, 2024, an additional entry fee has been charged for day visitors on certain days.
Residents in the Balearic Islands have also been suffering from the negative effects of mass tourism for years. Now the region’s Prime Minister, Marga Prohens, has also announced another tourist tax. Since 2016, there has been a tourist fee for sustainable projects in the Balearic Islands, which amounts to around 4 euros in luxury hotels in high season. The income is used to finance environmental projects.
After protests against mass tourism: government plans additional fee for tourists
In a speech in parliament, Prohens explained that another fee should help better manage tourism in the Balearic Islands. She spoke of a “deterrent measure”.
On the platform X (formerly Twitter) she added that the tax should be adjusted seasonally: “We propose to increase the tourist tax in the peak travel months and reduce it in the winter months of December, January and February.”
Concern about mass tourism in the Balearic Islands: Locals suffer the consequences
The background to the announcement is the numerous protests that took place in the summer against mass tourism in the Balearic Islands. Many locals are calling for a more sustainable tourism model, fearing that mass tourism is having a negative impact on infrastructure, the environment and property prices. In an interview with IPPEN.MEDIA, tourism expert Moritz Lindner described these protests as a “cry for help” and called for even stricter measures.
The exact amount of the new tax is not yet known. Concrete figures are expected to be published in February 2025, such as Mallorca newspaper reported. A YouGov survey recently showed that the majority of German holidaymakers do not feel responsible for the situation. Many people are also unfamiliar with the phenomenon. (jus)
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