Pollensa will no longer form part of the network of ‘The Most Beautiful Villages of Spain’, which stand out for their beauty, authenticity and exceptional heritage, from January 1. With its departure, a decision which has been taken by the current local council, Pollensa will lose all the rights and benefits associated with its membership of the association.
As of next year, Pollensa will no longer have the right to use the ‘The Most Beautiful Villages of Spain’ brand in its tourism promotion, advertising and any other area. The municipality will no longer benefit from access to key technological data and analyses that have contributed to the optimisation and management of its tourist activity, and will no longer form part of the agreements established by the Association with entities such as Endesa X, ONCE and other organisations, which have promoted initiatives related to sustainability, accessibility and modernisation of infrastructures.
As in France, Pollensa will no longer appear on the exclusive Michelin Map of member municipalities and will leave the International Federation of the World's Most Beautiful Villages, as well as losing its presence on key tourism promotion platforms, such as the web at tourism fairs like FITUR and the Turespaña portal.
The association says that it regrets the decision taken by Pollensa Town Hall and has made it clear that it will continue working to certify more villages in the Balearics in the coming months, to value architectural heritage, beauty and intangible heritage.
According to its website, the criteria for the admission of a new village are set out in the association's quality charter. In order to join the association, the village must first seek the agreement of the municipal authorities or local governing body. Once the request has been received by the association, the application process is set in motion, taking into account the following criteria:
– They must also have a certified architectural or natural heritage.