Spain holiday island to slap Brits with £650 fines for taking tops off | World | News
A Spanish holiday island has confirmed they will enforce fines on Brit holidaymakers for taking off their shirts, drinking in public, and being noisy. Ibiza is a much-loved holiday destination frequented by Brits in summer but new fines could curb interest in visiting the island. The island’s notorious party life could be hindered by the new rules, which would see fines of up to €3,000 enforced.
A “responsible tourism” campaign in the island’s capital of San Antonio has been launched to deal with noisy visitors while heavy fines could be levelled at thrillseekers headed to Ibiza as early as this summer. The campaign has been developed in collaboration with the British Consulate in the Balearic Islands and various social and business associations in the municipality.
Fines will range from 500 euros to 3,000 euros. To spread awareness of the campaign, organisers are set to send out 10,000 postcards to various establishments in the area. This includes restaurants, hotels, and shops. On the back of the postcard is information on the seven new rules for those holidaying in San Antonio.
San Antonio council says the initiative is part of a broader strategy to ensure compliance with municipal ordinances. A council spokesperson said: “Sant Antoni is a tourist destination but also a town where residents, the environment and the rules must be respected.
“The campaign uses a friendly and visual format to better reach visitors and ensure they understand the town’s rules from the outset.”
British Vice-Consul, Randy Valbuena praised the city council’s efforts to promote safe tourism for the well-being of British visitors and residents. Valbuena confirmed the consulate would issue the seven new rules through UK channels. San Antonio’s council says this is a vital way to issue the rules to holidaymakers in in Ibiza.
The campaign is entirely funded by the €3.4 million the council receives annually through the Sustainable Tourism Tax (ITS) under the responsible tourism decree.
The set of seven rules issued by the San Antonio council follow a six-rule statement released earlier this month.
Executive director of John Mason International, Simon Hood said the party hotspot would issue fines to tourists as a means to appease locals complaining of overtourism. He said: “In response to recent overtourism protests, the islands of Majorca and Ibiza have implemented Responsible Tourism rules following some understandable concern from local residents.
