Palma Says ‘no More’: City To Stop New Holiday Rentals In Major Tourism Clampdown

Palma’s politician draws a statement successful nan soil arsenic nan Balearic superior vows to extremity caller tourer lets and tighten rules connected statement tourism.

Palma’s mayor, Jaime Martínez, has announced 1 of nan toughest measures yet against overtourism: a full prohibition connected caller holiday rentals anyplace successful nan city. The decision, he said, is astir protecting residents, preserving nan city’s character, and ensuring that tourism remains sustainable.

Speaking astatine a property convention reviewing nan summertime season, Martínez confirmed that Palma presently has 639 officially registered tourer homes – and that number will not increase. “We’re closing nan doorway to immoderate more,” he said.

The caller measurement is expected to beryllium formally approved soon, either astatine nan adjacent assembly gathering aliases nan 1 after. And pinch a three-month retroactive effect, nary caller applications tin beryllium processed successful nan meantime.

Martínez framed nan move arsenic portion of a broader scheme to amended nan value of tourism and ace down connected forbidden rentals, which person agelong been blamed for rising rents and lodging shortages successful nan Balearic capital.

A metropolis taking backmost control

The politician didn’t extremity there. Palma is besides banning “party boats” from nan celebrated seafront promenade starting adjacent year, successful a bid to curb nan benignant of rowdy tourism that has progressively angered locals.

At nan aforesaid time, nary caller hostels will beryllium allowed to open, and nan metropolis assembly will promote nan conversion of existing ones into different types of accommodation.

The connection is clear – Palma wants to reshape its image and move distant from nan chaos of wide tourism. As Martínez put it, these measures are astir ensuring that Palma “remains a spot group emotion to visit, but besides a spot wherever group tin live.”

Palma’s push for “quality complete quantity”

Palma’s authorities says nan changes are already making a difference. According to figures from Exceltur, a starring tourism alliance, forbidden rentals person dropped by 18% successful Palma complete nan past 2 years — acold higher than nan mean diminution of conscionable 3.7% crossed 25 different Spanish cities.

“What’s happening timidly successful different cities is happening decisively successful Palma,” Martínez said proudly.

The move has sparked debate, pinch immoderate praising it arsenic a basal measurement to protect section life, while others interest it could wounded mini landlords and businesses who dangle connected tourer income. Still, for galore residents, it’s a alleviation – aft years of complaints astir noise, overcrowding, and soaring rents.

A turning constituent for tourism successful Palma

Palma’s determination follows akin moves successful Barcelona, Valencia, and different Spanish cities trying to find a equilibrium betwixt tourism and value of life. But nan Balearic capital’s prohibition connected caller vacation rentals is among nan strictest successful nan state – a clear awesome that it’s superior astir change.

By freezing caller licences and tightening rules connected statement tourism, Palma hopes to group an illustration for different destinations facing nan aforesaid dilemma. The city’s connection is simple: tourism is welcome, but not astatine immoderate cost.

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