While an influx of foreign visitors has wreaked havoc on popular towns and cities across the globe, the Balearic Islands archipelago near eastern Spain is frequently touted as one of the worst-hit spots. Low house prices, limited growth capacity, and limited resources have all played a part in its enduring appeal to British holidaymakers and expats. But the island group’s various municipalities, including the capital city of Majorca, have been at the forefront of new policies to tackle overtourism through disincentivising second homeowners, clamping down on short-term lets and, most recently, limiting the places for visitors to park.
Mayor Nadal Torres, of the beautiful tourist haven Valldemossa, in West Mallorca, opened the village’s first residents-only car park this week – a system that will be maintained through new barriers, access passes and automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) software. Making the 105-space area a permit-only parking spot will “prioritise residents’ parking”, he told the Majorca Daily Bulletin, in a move that has reportedly been “applauded” by locals.
The village’s other main car park will remain open to all vehicles, and more spaces will be available under an expansion of the region’s pay-for-parking zones.
The Balearics were among cities across Spain hit with anti-tourism protests earlier this month after tensions about an oversaturation of visitors, combined with a turbulent housing crisis, reached a boiling point.
Further action is planned in May, and authorities in Majorca have admitted that the archipelago has “reached its limit”.
Responding to criticism over the Balearic government’s approach to the problem, Antoni Costa, Minister of Economy, Finance and Innovation, said: “Is there saturation in the Balearic Islands? Yes. … Have we reached the limit? Yes, we have reached the limit.
“The Government is working to try to tackle a real problem for the resident population.”
Tourist containment measures already announced by the local authority include restricting cruise ship arrivals, a proposed increase of the €4 Sustainable Tourism Tax, and greater control over short-term rentals including Airbnb properties.
A planned prohibition on new accommodation in multi-family homes and a temporary 90,000 rental space limit are among the other deterrents announced in a bid to ease strain on the islands’ infrastructure and reassure residents.
Speaking earlier this month, Mr Costa said the plans were designed to “contain” rather than reduce footfall. “Not one more bed will be allowed,” he said. “This government has never been committed to decreasing the number of beds. We are only committed to reducing illegal tourist rental beds.”
Despite an outburst of protests across Spain last year, the Balearics recorded around 15 million tourist arrivals, a 6% rise in the previous year.