In a way, the Balearic Islands serve as a testing ground for the Canary Islands in tourism matters, especially regarding the tourist pressure on essential services and, in particular, housing prices.
The regional government of the Mediterranean archipelago has recently approved a Decree Law against illegal tourist offerings, with transitional measures to regulate the offer and for the quality of tourism.
The text establishes a new regulatory framework to contain the growth of tourist places, combat illegal offerings, and favor the reconversion of obsolete establishments, always under criteria of sustainability, quality, and coexistence.
With the aim of guaranteeing a balanced future for residents, the sector, and the territory, the decree puts an end to the creation of new places in multi-family homes, toughens sanctions against unregulated offerings, and opens the door to converting old tourist accommodations into affordable housing for the local population.
To reinforce the fight against illegal tourist offerings and guarantee compliance with regulations, the Decree establishes specific complaint channels managed by the island councils. These channels allow citizens to actively collaborate in the detection of unauthorized activities, thus contributing to preserving legality, coexistence, and the balance of the tourist model of the Balearic Islands.
This decree is the first step derived from the previous work carried out within the framework of the participatory process of the Social and Political Pact for Sustainability of the Balearic Islands, which has had the active involvement of citizens and more than 140 entities and social and institutional agents, and has served as the basis for the drafting of public policies aimed at guaranteeing a sustainable future for all.
Freezing of places, increase of fines, and control of platforms
The decree establishes a total prohibition on creating new tourist places in multi-family buildings in all the Balearic Islands. The objective is to preserve the residential use of homes and guarantee coexistence in urban centers.
The exchange of tourist places is allowed in a 1x1 system: new places can only be activated if the same number has been deactivated beforehand. This exchange is governed by criteria of reconversion and sustainability, and is subject to a global ceiling.
A Transitional Place Exchange is also created, which does not generate any new places, but facilitates orderly and controlled management while the island councils define the island ceiling and tourist carrying capacity.
In addition, sanctions against illegal tourist offerings have increased by 25%. Thus, minor offenses will be up to 5,000 euros, serious offenses up to 50,000, and very serious offenses can reach half a million euros.
The marketing platforms for tourist accommodations will be jointly responsible for infractions. They must demand and show the registration number of the accommodations and may be sanctioned if they publish illegal offers.
Conversion of hotels and sanctioned houses into social housing
Sanctioned owners who decide to cede their property to the Government to be used for social or limited-price rental can obtain a reduction of up to 80% of the sanction.
It is allowed to reconvert obsolete or unviable tourist establishments into limited-price housing, especially for workers. This measure aims to generate housing in areas of strong tourist pressure.
A special regime is promoted to modernize obsolete establishments, which does not allow increasing places or height, and which requires a strategic plan and quality and sustainability certifications.
The island councils may declare new saturated or reconversion zones, always with a prior strategic plan. These zones will have priority in the allocation of public aid and will have to participate in quality certification processes such as SICTED.
