Canyamel in Capdepera has a registered population of 503. The number of tourist accommodation places in Canyamel is 3,632 beds. If all occupied, the tourist population is therefore over seven times greater than the resident population.
It is not uncommon in parts of Mallorca for there to be a tourist-resident imbalance such as this. Tourist 'saturation', according to the Council of Mallorca's Plan for Intervention in Tourist Areas (PIAT), occurs when there are more than 0.75 tourist beds per resident. Saturation is therefore not unusual, but in Canyamel it is certainly on the high side.
Under a regional decree, a tourist area can officially be declared as saturated, meaning that measures for containment and conversion of buildings can be considered. A Capdepera Town Hall report confirms that Canyamel meets criteria for this saturation declaration and outlines measures for reducing pressure.
Weaknesses have been identified, for example the obsolescence of municipal infrastructure, which is in a general state of disrepair and lacks overall maintenance. There are issues with streets and pavements. Electrical installations are poor. These are very old with exposed elements; they contribute to an impression of deterioration.
There is a lack of public transport. There is limited parking, poor beach access, and an outdated and insufficient range of complementary services. All in all, it is a pretty damning report, the town hall having begun a process of improvements that it hopes will result in a sustainable model for Canyamel.