On June 26, the Forum of Civil Society in Mallorca held its first tourism congress. While the forum comprises entities well known for challenging the island's tourism model (the environmentalists GOB, the Palma XXI association, for example), congress participants included the president of the Mallorca Hoteliers Federation, Maria Frontera, Spain's secretary-of-state for tourism, Rosario Sánchez (who is Mallorcan), and President Marga Prohens.
Did the congress represent a coming-together of views regarding a future tourism model? The Balearic government's pact for sustainability, launched after the congress was announced, is intended to set out this future. Its various working parties will contribute to the drafting of the 'roadmap'. Critical voices like GOB have representation on these working parties, but GOB have stated they have little confidence in the government.
On Wednesday, the forum presented the conclusions of the congress. Underlying all of these is something that politicians like Marga Prohens and businesspeople like Maria Frontera will find hard to accept - degrowth.
Spokesperson Jaume Garau said: "The public and business sector is simply talking about limiting tourist arrivals, but that would not be sustainable because it is no longer sustainable. There is only one option and that is degrowth."
This is degrowth, he explained, which should be done "little by little" and "without leaving anyone behind" so that it does not result in a loss of employment.
Garau and the forum's president, Joana Maria Palou, stressed that measures such as those proposed in the congress document will have to be adopted sooner or later in other parts of the world that suffer from the same problems as the Balearics. "The problem we have is also faced by other European destinations; Europe will have to say these same things one day."
Some of the specific measures are familiar ones, such as a call for converting obsolete hotels into housing, no more tourism promotion, and no more attendance at international tourism fairs.
Referring to the pact for sustainability and the working parties, there was criticism of the balance. The forum's component entities are "underrepresented", while there are many representatives from the business world.
Reflecting on the recent protests, Garau said that it remains to be seen if these result in a reduction of tourist demand. "But we don't believe so."
9 comments
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Zoltan TeglasI love your optimism, but one thing I've learnt living in the Balearics for nearly 20 years, prices never go down.
Andy CoxLots of people come here to work in the tourist industry from mainland Spain, South America, Morocco etc. They will go elsewhere to look for work. This will decrease the demand for flats and rents will go down.
I would love to see how they manage to "degrow" tourism yet keep everyone employed. Having previously employed staff, it's a very costly exercise in Spain. I have no doubt that the government will create another law forcing small businesses to take the brunt of their new "ideas". Like always, the businesses will get hit the hardest.
tranq tranquerThe available option you quote are correct The entry to the island is controllable. So stop as Simmo says invitation. Ports and airports are the door and will set hotel , private ownership, and air b&b and privateer’s llegal and illegal , customer numbers. Reducing airport operations to limit slots and times will stop over crowding . 10% a year for 3 years. Political choices. I’ll probably hear the howls of protest of Majorca vested interests in Northumberland. Good luck
Toby and Simmo, you are coming at this as part of the problem, not part of the solution. Yes like all tourist destinations we created our own problems by growing growing growing. But that has to stop and stop now. This namby pamby idea of slow degrowth so no one is left behind is rubbish. Cut everything by 30% now, inward flights, tourist beds, rental cars, port entry and let the market sort itself out. I guarantee the fight to be one of those allowed in will increase because what will be on offer will be better. A somewhat quieter slightly less hectic holiday island which will always be desirable to visit and to live on. On that last point, minimum 5 years residency before being allowed to buy property and a strict control of building on agricultural land, only a certain percentage for each municipality.
What we have done is take money from our economy, put it into Spain and Greece etc for decades. I go on holiday, pay a German Company to pay some to Spain, some to them, a little to the U.K. in sirport fees. Plus spending money in Spain. If we stayed in this Country all would circulate here. Multiply that by millions of travellers each year. Spain has thrived on our money, now it’s buoyant they want us out to make room for millionaires. Plus of course, using the Spanish public to our us, to cut flights to close UK charter airports. Spain allowed the excesses, the topless beaches, the clubs bars, uncontrolled building on its coasts, destruction of its society and moral standards, now they want to rein it in, should not have allowed it in the first place. I love Mallorca, not the bars. It’s history countryside. There in September, for the first time I won’t feel wanted or safe!
SimmoActually that’s a really good point. There is a need to create a better balance but don’t abuse the tourists in the process. But that requires perspective which is rapidly beginning a scarce commodity.
I am just amazed, the tourists didn't build the hotels,or apartments , the Spanish did , we didn't just turn up , we were invited, by the Spanish, yet we are being abused ...I have moved my allegiance to the Greek islands , where they welcome us , and to be honest , it's more pleasant, and also quite a bit cheaper !! Good luck with biting the hand ....lllll
This should be fun to watch.