Palma Seeks to Curb Tourism Overcrowding with New Proposals
The mayor of Palma, Jaime Martínez, has introduced a series of measures aimed at alleviating tourism saturation in the city. These proposals will be presented to the Sustainability Committee for consideration. Among the key measures is the regulation of cruise ship arrivals, specifically allowing only small and medium-sized vessels and limiting the number of cruise ships docking in Palma.
Martínez also suggested implementing two new taxes for cruise passengers: one for arriving at the port and another for accessing the city. Additionally, he called for a revision of rubbish charges in all ports and proposed limiting the number of tourist groups and guided tours to prevent unauthorized guides and manage crowd sizes.
Further measures include the potential ban on "party boats," a revision of rubbish and water charges for holiday stays, and increased surveillance to eliminate illegal holiday rentals. The mayor also announced a ban on new tourist rental places in all forms within Palma.
Martínez emphasized the need for additional police presence from the National Police or Guardia Civil and suggested a ban on street alcohol consumption, except in designated areas. He also proposed the creation of park-and-ride car parks and improvements in public transport to manage the influx of visitors, especially on "Operation Cloud" days when bad weather drives people to the city center.
The proposals aim to address the significant number of visitors Palma receives annually. With a registered population of 450,000, the city accommodates millions of tourists, many of whom own second homes, contributing to a large floating population. Martínez stressed the importance of conducting a comprehensive study to gather data on these numbers.
The measures will be debated in a plenary session this Thursday, and Martínez hopes to achieve consensus with other political parties, social organizations, and experts. He believes that data-driven decisions are crucial for effectively managing tourism in Palma.