Majorca is facing calls to limit the number of available tourist accommodations as local officials and business leaders seek to address mounting concerns over overtourism. Jordi Mora, president of PIMEM, a federation representing small to medium-sized business associations, has urged authorities to implement measures to "curb tourism," including a reduction in the total number of tourist beds available on the island.
Mora believes that cutting back on accommodation options could lead to a more sustainable tourism model. He suggests that reducing the number of beds would also lessen competition and increase the value of remaining accommodations. This shift in strategy comes as visitor trends change, with tourists now booking shorter stays compared to previous years, leading Mora to advocate for a focus on "value" over visitor numbers.
Accommodation prices on the island have seen a disproportionate increase of 12 to 14 percent annually over the past three years, according to Mora. He also proposes implementing more competitive pricing to encourage holidaymakers to spend more with other local businesses, such as restaurants.
These proposals follow recent protests in September, where thousands of residents marched in Palma against airport expansion plans. Protesters voiced concerns that further expansion would exacerbate existing overtourism issues. The Spanish airport authority, Aena, has stated that the upgrades are necessary to meet evolving demands and denies that the expansion will significantly increase visitor numbers.
In a separate effort to manage tourism, the resort town of Benidorm has reportedly collected over €100,000 in fines from illegal holiday rentals since introducing new regulations last year. The Benidorm City Council took over the regulation of holiday rentals from the Valencian Government, aiming to tackle illicit rental practices.
Mora added that some small-scale hoteliers are already supportive of a reduction in tourist beds. He also highlighted the need to limit rental vehicles on the island, noting that businesses within that sector are also calling for such a measure.
