Pep Aloy resigned as Balearics tourism director general a couple of weeks ago. He had come out of retirement to take up the position and had set a time limit on how long. There was no controversy. It had all been pre-agreed, President Prohens having valued his vast experience. On and off since the 1990s, he had held senior positions at the ministry.
Speaking about the past 30 years, he highlights the growth in the supply of tourist accommodation from 300,000 beds to more than 600,000. Related to this growth has been what he describes as the increasing distortion of exclusive use. He is referring to holiday rentals.
"Over the years, the idea of expanding and democratising tourism grew, and the concept of exclusive use was lost. Firstly, tourist use was permitted in houses, then in 2017 it was extended to apartments. At the time, I could understand it. I was mayor of Sencelles, and I wanted tourism to go there. The problem now is that it has." In saying that he can't understand why there are now complaints, he is alluding to the fact that exclusive use was allowed to be eroded.
There is much talk about degrowth, and Aloy suggests this has to be done "by getting rid of the illegals; that's real degrowth". "There's a problem of hypocrisy. Many talk about degrowth, but no one wants to be the first to go that way; they want everyone else to. Let's focus first on what's illegal, because the other option has a cost. I'm not saying it shouldn't be done, but when someone says that this or that should be expropriated, we have to be consistent. Sooner or later, a judge will come along and say who has to pay for it."
He perhaps would have gone further in addressing holiday rentals, "but Europe isn't helping at all with this". "I consider myself a person with a liberal ideology, but when order needs to be restored, you have to intervene. And Europe is committed to the total liberalisation of activities.
"Another difference is that we're not aware of the transformation process we're in. In the 1970s, Miami was a refuge for American retirees who went there to die. The city transformed and went from a tourist destination to a residential one. The same thing happened on the French Riviera. Now there's a growing selection of hotels, but it's essentially become a residential destination. And we're gradually experiencing the same thing."
On funding - European and tourist tax - Aloy says that investment of 740 million euros has been set in motion over the past two years. On the tax, he stresses that it is not an ecotax but one with defined purposes. He was against the old ecotax that was introduced in 2002 because he thought it would create a competitive disadvantage.
With the latest tax (since 2016), "I have to admit that it's fine as it is, with the rates and earmarked investments. I've ensured that the money is going to necessary projects and with absolute transparency. It's 140 million euros each year, and I think that's enough. It shouldn't be raised, but rather invested wisely." If the tax were to be increased in order to control the flow of tourists, "that would be a complete mistake".