Palma mayor won't go back on holiday rentals ban

In Noguera's view the lawsuit is an attempt to supplant municipal sovereignty. It is a "democratic anomaly". The town hall, he stressed, had the obligation and need to establish a system of zoning for apartment rentals in accordance with Balearic legislation. The decision to introduce a ban was taken after reports showed the negative impact on coexistence and also the direct association between holiday rentals and the price of accommodation.

The mayor suggested that the Fevitur legal action was a "manipulation of the law" and went on to highlight the fact that in July 2017 the town hall had backed a popular legislative initiative on behalf of the Palma federation of residents associations. That initiative, in the form of a petition signed by over 6,000 people, pointed to the risks to coexistence because of holiday rental apartments.

The Palma measure, Noguera added, was pioneering and one to defend the general interest above the financial interests of a few.