Josep Aloy, the Balearic Government's director general of tourism, has submitted his resignation. The cabinet will formally accept his resignation on Friday and appoint his successor, Miquel Rosselló. Aloy's right-hand man at the ministry, his background includes having worked for Meliá Hotels International.
His resignation, which takes immediate effect, comes a few days before the start of the London World Travel Market, one of the 'big three' tourism/travel fairs for the Balearics. For this reason, the timing appears inopportune, but his departure comes as no surprise to those close to him. Now 67, he was semi-retired when appointed director general in 2023. He had not intended to serve the full four years of the current government.
His experience in the islands' tourism administration is unmatched, he having held positions at the tourism ministry on four separate occasions since the 1990s. The number two to the minister for tourism, culture and sport, Jaume Bauzá, this experience was invaluable for a minister with no background in tourism.
Following the Partido Popular's election win in 2023, the appointment of tourism minister was problematic; there weren't obvious candidates for the position. Bauzá, formerly the mayor of Montuïri, was viewed by some as a purely political appointee. Aloy provided the necessary support. Reform of the tourism of excesses law, the introduction of the tourism containment decree and the management of European funds have largely been attributed to him. In the past, he was instrumental in the drafting of the 1999 and 2012 tourism laws.
Aloy has also been heavily involved with the fight against illegal holiday letting, having engaged in direct talks with websites such as Booking.com and Airbnb and worked closely with the island councils to provide them with the best tools for dealing with this illegal supply.