An airline boss has shared three things Majorca should do to help stop the anti-tourist protests erupting on the island.
British tourists have faced a wave of anger during recent months as locals lash out at tourists piling into the sunny Spanish getaway spot.
Jet2 boss Steve Heapy says the best way authorities could crush the protests is by cracking down on illegally rented accommodation.
According to new data, there are at least 7,000 illegal holiday apartments in the Balearic Islands.
It comes as two million tourists are estimated to have gone “missing” in Spain’s Balearic Islands last year amid suspicions some may have rented properties via this route.
Tour firms and holiday companies have claimed unlicensed accommodation has caused massive “tourist overcrowding”, sparking major protests across the island last year.
While authorities have been scrambling to crack down, Mr Heapy has claimed the solution is simple.
He was quoted as saying by the Majorca Daily Bulletin: “They (authorities) say it’s too hard to regulate, but it isn’t.
“All they need to do is book a property on Airbnb, find out who owns it, go and knock on the door and say, ‘Hi, I’m from the local government. I’d like to see your tourism licence, your health and safety certificate and your tax return.’
“If they can’t give you those three things, fine them €200,000. The number of properties would drop by 95% overnight. That would mean the protests would stop.”
Majorca Daily Bulletin reported in July that 2.3 million tourists stayed with friends or family or used illegal rentals in 2023, taking the figures from Spain’s National Statistics Institute.
Under recently introduced laws passed by the Balearic Government, landlords who fail to register to pay Spain’s mandatory tourist tax will be forced to close.
In recent days, it emerged Malaga will join popular destinations including Barcelona and Majorca in curbing new registrations of holiday rental properties.
Existing accommodation affected by the change include holiday flats registered since February 22 last year which don’t have separate entrances and utilities to permanent residents, according to the Independent.
