Opposition party Més per Mallorca have registered a motion with the Balearic Parliament to reduce the weight of tourism in the islands' economy by 40%.
This would be achieved, according to the motion, by a 40% reduction in the current number of tourist accommodation places (beds) and the establishment of an annual cap on the number of tourists.
In addition, Més are proposing an end to tourism promotion at international fairs, a ban on private jets, no expansion of airports and a cut to the number of flights and cruises.
The coordinator and spokesperson for Més per Mallorca, Lluís Apesteguia, said on Monday: "The containment measures announced by President Prohens are insufficient given the current situation." He stressed the urgency of adopting policies of tourism degrowth and economic diversification to mitigate the effects of mass tourism.
Més want to see a significant chunk of tourist tax revenue being allocated to economic diversification and an increase in the number of tourism inspectors in order to tackle illegal holiday rentals. Their motion specifies one inspector for every 10,000 accommodation places.
The proposal to cut accommodation by 40%, it's fair to say, stands very little chance of being approved.
9 comments
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TDCareful there, "loadsamoney". You could be accused of being a "socialist".
@ Tranq, "with a better restrictions on building bloody great houses which are often only used a few months a year, in the middle of good farm land" Totally agree, start by knocking Morgan Welshman's houses down as the fit the description you gave perfectly!
Morgan is correct about Més , they are the type that sells the Socialist Worker in the UK. To Ambergrillo I would say there is nothing wrong with going back to pig farming, agriculture for local food production needs much more investment along with a better restrictions on building bloody great houses which are often only used a few months a year, in the middle of good farm land. Stan, if by some miracle the graffiti artist was found which is highly highly unlikely, then Més & co would make him / her a hero.
Back to the pig farming days for Mallorca.
Més is a fringe extremist party who nobody has ever taken too seriously (including the last government where they were just a necessarily inconvenient junior partner). I wouldn't take this too seriously either. For obvious reasons.
Finding the idiot that wrote the stupid graffiti on a wall. Giving him/her a huge Fine. Then making them to remove it. Finally publishing their name etc. to completely destroy any future actions, or credence, they could have.
Err how about limiting the number of flights or hotel rooms along with limiting Airbnb places. Simple.
And how does MES plan on funding PARO with the highest unemployment rate in Europe?
What utter nonsense. Compulsory closure of some hotels? Mallorca to withdraw from all tourism marketing activities? It's not tourists that kill a city. It's the Government opposition party!