The Balearic government is suggesting that the CNMC is potentially encroaching on powers that were transferred to Spain's autonomous regions in 1993. Barceló wonders why the commission appears to advocate the open marketing of holiday rentals in any location and of any type without taking account of urban planning regulations which would rule this out. "It is an especially sensitive issue in respect of tourist rentals in apartment blocks. In other types of buildings, such as detached chalets, risks are far lower."
In the document sent to the commission, the government concludes that the commission is proposing an unacceptable interference in Balearic self-government. "This could have a negative impact on the general interest because it would affect, with consequences difficult to foresee, the economic and tourist model as well as the models of urban planning, of land organisation, of the labour market and of housing availability. The regional government is obliged to exercise its own powers in regulating the marketing of holiday rentals in line with the general interest."
Barceló points out that there will be a meeting in the next couple of weeks with all interested parties in order to try and agree a framework for preventing rental tax evasion, uncontrolled rentals and the distortion of the prevailing tourist and economic model. The government is seeking to regulate as soon as possible in order to ensure maximum certainty (and legal security) for tourists who rent properties and for the non-hotel accommodation sector as a whole, regardless of any provisions under the national urban lettings act (often referred to as the tenancy act).
The growth in non-hotel accommodation supply is occurring on all of the islands, and so Barceló sees island councils and town halls holding a key role in the control of such accommodation. "It is vital that there is control in order to avoid the possibility of a massive increase in tourist places and any type of fraud."
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Thank God that CNMC (acronym that I approve of!!) are around to stick up for freedom without control. In England 'an Englishman's home is his castle'. And one can do what he likes with his house, without state control. I know that unfortunately nowadays this could never work here. 'Economic and tourist model' seems to be this week's buzz words - (can't wait for next week's!!) It is worrying how many times the word 'control' comes up in virtually every MDB report. How sad! You cannot force tourists into hotels by eliminating the competition through legislation. Many visitors will never stay in a hotel, preferring the freedom of an apartment, villa or finca. The hoteliers themselves have unsuccessfully tried to offer this freedom by creating aparthotels, independent self contained suites and agrotourisms (which give the impression of staying on your own farm! ) They would build more and more hotels if only the legislation would permit it. They have exhausted the coastline and now concentrate on spending their profits upgrading those seafront hotels, buying up inland country properties and on their latest big earners - the Palma 'boutique' hotels. And they are increasing their investment in underdeveloped parts of the Caribbean. But it's still not enough for them. Unbelievably Sra. Inma de Benito says the number of hotel beds has not increased in line with private accommodation. And Sr. Barceló and his team are cooking up plans which are reminiscent of a communist dictatorship. The state controlling what a person can or not do with their property contravenes European law and will never get off the ground. Why not live and let live? Leave the apartment and villa owners alone. Their tourists are the ones that keep the supermarkets, car hire companies, bars and restaurants in business.
Barcelo and many others,including the hotels need to wake up to the fact that the reason there are increasing demands for private rentals is that many families and individuals want more than the hotels currently offer ie:mass-produced,poor quality food,tiny,poky little rooms,third-rate entertainment,people whose sole idea of a holiday is to drink as much booze in the hotel as they can on all-inclusive deals,charges for this,that and the other and set meal times which mean that if you want to have a day out,you have to buy extra meals outside the hotel.