A minimum of 31 million euros is being invested in Majorca's tourist resorts. Biel Barceló, the tourism minister, announced this during a visit yesterday to see work on the semi-pedestrianisation of Puerto Pollensa's coastal road.
This project, in its first phase, involves the widening of pavements and the creation of one-way traffic coming into Puerto Pollensa from Alcudia as far as the roundabout at the entrance to the yacht club. It has a budget of 1.4 million euros, of which the government is providing 600,000 via the "bolsa" fund created with revenue for legalising hotel places that needed legalising. The town hall is providing the rest.
The bolsa is currently financing seven projects at a total value of almost 6.4 million euros. In addition to Puerto Pollensa, there is the remodelling of the avenue in Magalluf, Paguera's Eucaliptus street and Puig de sa Morisca centre, plus the sports centre in the Sant Llorenç part of Cala Millor, work in Cala Major and a cycle lane from Es Calonge to the football ground in Cala d'Or. These various projects are all due to be completed in early May.
This winter, projects worth 9.6 million euros will be started, while a further 15 million euros are due to be drawn from the bolsa fund this summer and to be allocated to work in different municipalities. The minister says of all this that it is important investment for the remodelling of tourist resorts, for the rehabilitation of heritage and for adding value to resorts with a vision of the future. Moreover, it is investment that will contribute to the creation of jobs in the low season.
Pollensa's mayor, Miquel Angel March, explained that the second phase of the Puerto Pollensa project will be started after this summer's season. "It is a project of gradual pedestrianisation to improve the front line of the port which will convert a main road into a promenade with pedestrians being given greater importance."
In addition to widening the pavements, the streetlights and trees are being changed along a 1,700 metre stretch. The second phase will involve laying a form of cobble in this part, to provide a bike lane separate from the road and to improve the wall along the beach.