No new tourist accommodation places in the Balearics for four years

You may not be aware that Mallorca has the highest density of legal private accommodation in Spain (villas, fincas, agrotourism, finca hotels, etc). And the big resort hotels have always seen them as a threat, because they certainly can't compete on the basis of value proposition. The quality of accommodation found in a finca or villa would be equal or superior to a resort hotel's "presidential suite" at similar or lower cost. But what the major hoteliers ignore is the demographic of their market. Most tourists want a beach Hotel. It doesn't matter if it's a 20m2 Spartan room, as long as it has a view, a pool, a beach, and a bar/restaurant. There's another type of tourist who doesn't want that. They prefer their own private space. Their own private pool. A real kitchen. Real bedrooms. A pool bar. Some charm. You can't get that st a resort hotel, at any price. And this type are the ones who (quietly) inhabit everything outside the "resorts" throughout the entire year. And that's another thing the resorts can only wish for. Notwithstanding the pandemic, tourism is Mallorca has traditionally been approaching maximum sustainable levels. Add to that the handful of down market areas where high season crime, injury, and death rates were soaring, while attracting the cheapest of the cheap, and I think it's clear that changes needed to be made. A they were. Now, after the pandemic, tourism is coming back. In droves. It appears to me that this legislation is merely an attempt to keep Mallorca in high demand, while maintaining or elevating the quality of offerings. That will only attract a tourist profile that seeks quality over quantity. And that's what been happening for about 5 years now. With support of the tourist industry as a whole. Because it's sensible.

This legislation is without doubt using a sledgehammer to crack a nut. It can always be repealed a year or two down the line, lets hope so. The real question here is what sort of tourism do we want. Cruise Tourism : needs to be strictly controlled and is certainly on the agenda. Sensible criuse tourists don't want to be jostling and pushing with people from six or seven other ships when they walk around Palma. They want a pleasant experience so they will come back. The cruise companies need to be made to see this. Booze/Disco tourism : it has to go on somewhere to cater for all the young out there. I did it, I bet most of you did it. One or two dedicated areas, probably where it already exists. If you moved into Magalluf even thirty or forty years ago you shouldn't be complaining about the noise. Family Tourism : what everyone seems to want. It breaks down into two main economic groups. The less well off who want by necessity the cheapest possible deal in the sun. All inclusive, days by the pool or beach, culture no thank you. Mallorca grew up with this tourism, as did Benidorm and Torremolinos. Probably best for Mallorca that we now leave the mainland to cater to that market. The slightly better off, the group most aspire to, not millionaires but hardworking education appreciating families. Four star hotels or above. Quality over quantity. These people bring us two different problems. No matter how good the hotels more and more people want self catering rental accommodation, either apartment or increasingly villa. No wonder they are such an anathema to the hotel industry. An industry that needs bringing down several pegs so that they control only their hotels and not the way a complete island tourism industry works. Secondly the problem is travel. How many remember the countless coaches making the rounds of glass works, pottery works, souvenir centers ending up at the drivers brothers restaurant for an overpriced snack. Apart from the eastern european tourists ( russians ,poles etc) those days are gone. Everyone wants a rental car, and if you are in a villa its a no brainer. So the roads are more and more crowded in summer, and if you look at the population growth figures you see why they are not much less crowded anymore in winter. Of all I have written above I think this is the hardest nut to crack. Reformation of the railways, which is happening slowly, will help but is not the answer. Similarly giving everyone a free bike would help a bit, unless you stay somewhere like Soller. You may say all of this is stating the bleedin obvious and so it is. It does demonstrate the problems facing government and I am glad they are not my problems. However personally I do not think sledgehammer legislation is the best way to go about it.

I do not understand how this would make the quality or the sustainability better for the islands. New (renovated) hotels and new (renovated) private holiday lettings has a better quality and sustainability than the old ones. Target and question the old licenses instead. Thats must be the way to make a change in the right direction. I feel sad for those who has made serious investments and were counting on the license.

I agree Mark, QUALITY OVER QUANTITY.

It actually makes sense. Mallorca is getting too full. Just take the amount of rental cars. Quality over quantity.

A little cognitive dissonance going on there. On one hand, argue that third world Spain is scaring away [British] tourists, then cry "no tourist". Not sure if you mean "Stop tourism" or that there's no tourists. Either way, it's just wishful thinking. Go home and "wish upon a star" in your own little "Magic Kingdom". The rest of us need to live in the real world.

Well done, Govern! PROTECT THE ISLANDS

This is so Bad that it is not even worthy of commentary people better wake up this is complete Nuts !

No turist. Nobody like turist. Speak funy langwidge and many drunk. Fat lazy. Real red in sun. Read day express magazin. Talk about fish, chips, beer and queen. And bonk in street. Complane much. Spend low moneys, all too spensive. Many strange.

NO TOURIST .