This Friday, the Balearic Government will approve a tourism decree that will in effect lift the current moratorium on tourist accommodation places (beds) by establishing a temporary pool of places until the island councils have reached agreement on the maximum number of accommodation places per island. The moratorium won't be lifted definitively until the councils have announced their decisions.
President Marga Prohens said on Wednesday that her role is to "defend the general interest". "We advocate containment, not decrease." She was referring to the 90,000 holiday rental accommodation places that will be placed in the exchange pool, a decision that has enraged Mallorca's hoteliers.
She explained that the temporary pool will allow for the exchange of accommodation places but without growth. "Starting Monday, new establishments will be able to open without creating new places."
Since February 2022, which was when the previous government introduced the moratorium, it has not been possible to acquire holiday rental accommodation places from the pool and therefore establish a new holiday rental property. From Monday, this will be possible, but not for apartments. Prohens added that there will be a prohibition of apartment accommodation places, by which she meant new ones. The acquisition of places from the pool for holiday rentals will only be for standalone properties.
Ahead of Wednesday's announcement, the Mallorca Hoteliers Federation said that it would be "scandalous" and "incomprehensible" were the government to make available so many accommodation places, given the housing emergency. The hoteliers' view is that there will be a perpetuation of holiday rental apartments, when an improvement to access to housing would be achieved by eliminating them.
Regarding the criticism from the hoteliers, Prohens said it was "normal" for business representatives to defend their interests, "but we must all be able to coexist". The decree, she pointed out, will incorporate stronger measures to tackle illegal holiday rentals. The tourist tax will be used to combat this illegal activity.
And on the tourist tax, an increase that had been contemplated for high summer will now not be implemented. "I said from the outset that this would have to be negotiated because I don't have a parliamentary majority." She pointed out that Vox had been the only party willing to discuss the decree and, as a condition for supporting it, had requested that there be no fiscal measures, i.e. no tourist tax increase. On this, at least, the hoteliers will be content.
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James JonesMy Bad.
Jules OSpot on, Jules. But here's the thing... Villas represent a tiny fraction of tourist accommodation in Mallorca when compared with the number of hotel rooms. So, why are they so afraid by of holiday lets? I suspect by it's more about deflecting blame than some imaginary loss of business. The hotels enjoy 80-90% occupancy in the seasons that they choose to open. Holiday lets aren't much of a threat at all. Like, zero, really.
As we know, apartment-based holiday rentals are illegal. Whereas licensed villa-based holiday rentals are legal. For those more adventurous tourists, who don't need the safety blanket of a hotel's infrastructure, a villa-based holiday is a wonderfully liberating experience. One that spreads a tourist's holiday spending across multiple island businesses. Furthermore, holiday villa rentals are not generally worsening the housing crisis, which is centered around chronic shortage of affordable apartments for long-term rent. The hotels association should get over themselves. Anyone with half a brain can see right through their shameless and relentless pursuit of their own self-interest.
Burgundy BlueIsn’t that apocalypse now
When will.tje government tell the hoteliers to shut up. For at least 20 years they have been constantly moaning.
I love the sound of squealing hoteliers in the fresh morning air. Apologies to Full Metal Jacket.
No mention of limiting the number of hotel places? Now, that's a surprise!