The Balearic Government has signalled that it intends for the current agreement with shipping companies, which limits the number of cruise ships arriving at Palma’s port, to remain in place “at the very least.”
Vice President and Minister for Economy, Finance and Innovation, Antoni Costa, made the statement in response to a question from MÉS per Mallorca spokesperson Lluís Apesteguia in Parliament on Tuesday, concerning the Government’s tourism policy.
Costa argued that the findings of a recent survey by the Balearic Tourism Strategy Agency (Aetib) “point in the direction” favoured by the Government, which includes no expansion of tourist accommodation, a ban on new tourist apartments, and restrictions on car rental services. “This Government supports limits and the transformation of the Balearic economic model,” he asserted.
He also highlighted that the Government President, Marga Prohens, is the first regional leader to declare “loud and clear” that the Balearics “have reached their limit” and that “growth in volume is no longer possible.”
In response, Apesteguia criticised the Government for using concerns about “tourism degrowth” and the impact on families as a justification for avoiding measures to address these issues.