Biel Company of the PP speaking yesterday. | Partido Popular

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Biel Company, the president of the Partido Popular in the Balearics, yesterday told PP councillors from the four Balearic islands that the party will repeal holiday rentals legislation and zoning criteria if it wins the election in May 2019.

Company accused the current Balearic government of "wanting tourists' money but without tourists" and of turning its back on sun and beach tourism while also raising obstacles to quality tourism sectors such as golf and nautical. He said that the PP will introduce legislation to embrace all forms of accommodation for holiday rental, observing that the use of apartments "is a reality".

Calling on the party's members to work towards "returning Sra. Armengol to opposition", Company attacked the sectarianism, prohibition and imposition of "leftist parties" currently represented in the main governmental institutions in the Balearics. He insisted that the PP "must make politically possible what is necessary to improve the lives of Balearic residents", an example of which would be to "reverse the attack on private property".

While Company was addressing PP councillors, the president of the Aptur holiday rentals association, Joan Miralles, stated at a press conference that this year's tourism season is endangered because of "unresolved errors in the tourism law". He referred to uncertainties created by legislation and zoning in various municipalities. "Many owners do not know if they can rent out their homes or not. They therefore cannot offer them on internet platforms, and this is right at the time when tourists are preparing their summer holidays."

The Aptur president continued: "Last year's season was lost because of the tourism law and the changes introduced halfway through the season and we are about to lose a second season. It is unfair that the holiday rentals sector is suffering in this way, when it is one that contributes so much to tackling tourism seasonality and the greater democratic distribution of the benefits of tourism."