The environmentalists GOB want to reduce the importance of tourism to the Balearic economy by 50% and to reach this by 2035.
Proposals in its report on "ecosocial transition" in the Balearics, GOB's Margalida Ramis recognises, would still mean an "unsustainable" economy ten years from now, as it would continue to be based on tourism. But developments would have been made in the food sector, which should double in size, in forestry and in industry based on green production.
"What are our goals? Tourism must decrease; we need to diversify our economy, to resize it, but we must consider the social inequalities that have been generated. Furthermore, we must also consider that we have biophysical limits that have been exceeded globally and not just locally.
"A transformation of the economic model is needed. We must engage in dialogue with the working class. When we organise protests against tourism and the workers in the sector are not present, we are, in a way, failing. We will not be able to achieve change, degrowth and limits if the working class is not with us. They should not feel threatened by our proposals. Environmentalism and the labour movement must be united, or no transformation is possible.
"We have a service economy, which has focused on tourism specialisation. We don't produce anything we consume. We are very vulnerable, since we depend on a single sector. We want to move towards a productive economy focused on producing what we truly need to sustain life in our region."
The report focuses heavily on the working week, the aim being for a 30-hour week by 2035. GOB's figures suggest there would be 665,125 people in employment ten years from now, 108,720 more than in 2022. The total number of hours worked in the tourism industry would fall by 52% compared with 2022. It is this number which essentially explains the 50% reduction in economic importance.
In terms of tourism jobs, there would be a loss of 34,535 because of the 30-hour week to 75,806. GOB also envisage job losses in construction, retail and transport, but argue there would be gains in, among other areas, food production, paid care and public administration.
"Production must be relocated and ruralisation is necessary. What we need most is food production. What is our main focus? A decrease in tourism, construction, and transport. What should increase? The primary sector, recycling … . But in ten years, such a drastic shift can't happen to the extent that tourism ceases to be fundamental.
“Basing an economy on bringing in foreigners to spend time and consume resources is madness. What's the solution? That fewer come and they pay more. There's a question of social justice here, which must be considered. I want fewer tourists, but not just wealthy people coming to visit. Why can't we have social tourism? In these four- or five-star hotels, do the workers earn four or five times more?"