Visitors Are Too Intensive, Mallorca Authority Plans To Limit The Number Of Hotel Beds For Tourists

Tourists at Cala Llombards, Mallorca, Spain. (Wikimedia Commons/Tommie Hansen)

JAKARTA - Mallorca authorities want to limit the number of hotel beds for tourists to combat overcrowding, the island's government council announced this week.

The plan is to set a limit of 430,000 tourist beds across the island, with Mallorca Council President Catalina Cladera, saying they want "larger-valued tourism and less volume".

After the COVID-19 travel restrictions were lifted, the island saw an unprecedented number of visitors this summer.

Tourists quickly filled hotel rooms and holiday rentals with Cladera admitting that "repetitive debates about population density are returning".

"I will not deny it, there is a population density this summer. However, only in certain places and times," he said, launching Euronews October 20.

Earlier this week the Mallorca Council confirmed it would reassess tourism plans and reduce the number of visitors to the island. There will be a limit on the number of hotel beds and how to market them.

It also announced an increase in the number of tourism supervisors, to conduct inspections on illegal holiday permits.

Previously, authorities had introduced a number of strict regulations across the Balearik Islands this year, in a bid to reduce population density. The drunk tourists, who previously packed the streets, were specifically targeted by the new rules.

Alcohol restrictions have been imposed in many complete resorts in Magaluf, El Arenal, and on the island of Ibiza. Guests in some locations are limited to three drinks during dinner and three drinks during lunch, other alcoholic beverages must be purchased separately.

The law also prohibits happy hour, pub exploration, two-in-one drink offerings, shop sale of alcohol between 9:30 p.m. and 8 a.m. to party boat ads in certain areas.

This summer, one of the most popular party resorts at Mallorca, Playa de Palma, banned people wearing soccer shirts from entering restaurants. Business owners gather to make dress codes aimed at reducing noisy behavior.

Meanwhile, Ibiza in particular tries to distance himself from his reputation as a destination for drinking parties. The local government hopes to focus on more sustainable tourism such as various health resorts and environmentally friendly on the island.