Travel

Spain: Beaches at popular holiday spots set to ban smoking – are you for or against?


Spain holidays could see smoking vanishing from beaches on Majorca and Ibiza as authorities propose a new scheme. A smoking ban has been put forward in a bid to cut down on the high volume of cigarette butts present on the sand and sea and to help the environment. Holidaymakers often leave their butts littering the beach and they wash out to sea where they harm wildlife. Balearic Government health officials also believe the beaches would benefit from being smoke-free zones.

However, the smoking ban would not be enforced but would, instead, be voluntary.

Police will patrol the beaches but sun-worshippers will not be made to stop smoking and they won’t be punished.

Environmental health chiefs hope holidaymakers on Ibiza and Majorca will ”delve into their own consciences” and support what local councils are trying to do.

There is only one beach in the Balearics where smoking is currently prohibited – Santa Eulària on the east coast of Ibiza where the order came into force in 2016.

However, on the mainland, Galicia and Murcia have a no smoking rule in tourist zones.

“What is involved is to gradually get people to empower themselves and make others respect spaces without tobacco,” General director of public health for the Balearic Government, Maria Ramos said.

“Having these smoke-free beaches or coves will be added value for tourists who visit us and for the residents of the municipality.”

“This is a programme to invite the municipalities that want to do it voluntarily to convert their beaches, some of them or a part of their sandbanks, into spaces that prohibit smoking.”

“We hope that this first year a town council will adhere and, little by little, others will be added.”

The proposed scheme – if it goes ahead – will see posters, leaflets and badges distributed encouraging people to not light up.

A meeting is to be held shortly to explain the initiative and ask local councils to take part.

Magaluf, on mainland Spain, is set to provide ashtrays to keep its beaches clear of butts, Calvia council recently announced.

Ramos said they applauded this but this new initiative for Ibiza and Majorca took the campaign one step further.

Tourists heading to the Atlantic Islands of the Galicia National Park – off the north-west coast of Spain – could also face new rules. 

The Galician government wants to tighten existing environmental rules to impose tougher restrictions on tourist numbers.

Visitor numbers to the islands will be capped, with the total slashed by several thousand.

Additional reporting by Rita Sobot



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