Tourist warning as Ibiza plans major change for this summer | World | News
One of the UK’s favourite holiday destinations is plotting a crackdown on road traffic amid a backlash to overtourism. Ibiza Council has proposed a maximum limit of vehicles on the Balearic island‘s roads over the summer, capped at 18,918 per day. The rules could eventually be imposed across all four islands in the archipelago, with officials looking to establish an umbrella law following regulations coming into force on Ibiza and Formentera.
The crackdown will form part of a gradual five-year reduction of road traffic to make travel easier for both residents and holidaymakers during the island’s busiest season. The measures, which are subject to approval by the Balearic Parliament, would apply from June 1 to September 15, as per the Majorca Daily Bulletin.
It is one of several ways officials in the Balearics are attempting to curb local discontent about rising footfall, with the government set to debate an increase of the sustainable tourism tax next week.
The nightly fee for tourists staying in paid accommodation in Majorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera, which ranges from €1 (£0.86) to €4 (£3.75) per person/night plus 10% VAT, could be increased during periods of peak footfall if the proposal is approved.
The CCOO trade union has called for it to be raised to as high as €15 (£13) per person per day during peak summer months as a “deterrent” and message that “there is no more room for people here during the high season”.
Tourist footfall in the Balearic’s most popular island Majorca reached a record 19million last year, dwarfing its population of around 970,000.
The increase came in spite of numerous anti-tourism protests highlighting the impact of increased footfall on high house prices, rising cost-of-living and strained infrastructure.
Meanwhile, Ibiza welcomed 3.27million holidaymakers in 2024, according to data from IBSESTAT, amounting to 20 tourists for every local person.
The Balearic government first introduced a tourism tax in 2016 to be spent in island improvement projects, which was doubled to a maximum of €4 (£3.75) the following year.
Officials have also rolled out a campaign promoting sustainable tourism and brought in restrictions on cruise ship arrivals and illegal short-term lets.
