Additional reporting by Rita Sobot
The Balearic government is working at enforcing new rules to clamp down on tourist behaviour in some of its most popular hotspots. The news comes following a string of incidents, including a couple being spotted copulating in broad daylight on a lighthouse.
The plans are likely to go out for public consultation later this summer.
According to Island newspaper Diario de Mallorca, the government is looking at ways it could force hotels to leave alcohol out of all-inclusive offerings and “thus stopping the sometimes massive consumption that takes place in the establishments that offer this service”.
No official announcement has yet been made but director-general of tourism for the Balearics Antoni Sansó told the newspaper: “We don’t intend to prohibit alcohol because you can’t but we can regulate it.
“Rather than put limits on consumption or time, we propose that alcohol does not come into the equation but it’s not easy.
“The Government wants to rely on the same formula used for half-board and full-board packages in which they charge for alcohol separately.”
Some restaurant owners in the region are reported to be in support of the new regulations.
One restaurant owner told Diario de Mallorca: “There is no control on the part of the hotel company, no matter how much they say yes, and there are those who leave the hotel truly drunk, it hurts us in every way.”
Meanwhile, there has also been a clampdown on cruise ships entering the region’s waters.
The two islands, just off Spain, are said to have complained about “tourism of excesses” caused by ships.
In Ibiza, up to four cruise ships can arrive at the same time while the capital of Majorca Palma can see as many as eight liners a day.
Now, the port authority is rumoured to be asking cruise lines to take the island’s off itineraries.
Tourism councillor Iago Negueruela said they hoped to “achieve greater sustainability in the arrival of cruise ships.”
Director general of ports, Xavier Ramis added: “The aim is to decongest the port of Palma and encourage this type of tourism to benefit the rest of the autonomous and state ports.”
