Tourists heading to Ibiza this summer may face a shortage of accommodation, with local politicians planning to introduce a new holiday rental ban.
In other plans being considered by Francina Armengol, president of the Balearics, some hotels can be converted into public housing as the archipelago tries to overcome the housing crisis in the area and manage tourism better.
The rise in the use of Airbnb has increased the cost of renting in Spain, especially in popular destinations such as Ibiza, and many Spaniards have complained that it has become impossible to continue living there due to the increase in rental prices.
Speaking to the business newspaper Expansion, and reported by iNews, Armengol said: “We are considering an increase for tourists, hotels and resorts, maintaining the ban on resorts in multi-family homes and fighting illegal donations. We want to start buying hotels stars of one or two stars that have already disappeared to eliminate them or turn them into legally protected buildings.”
Armengol leads the leftist regional government with the Més per Mallorca and Unidas Podemos parties. He is also standing to stand again in the central and regional elections this Sunday on May 28.
In addition to Armengol’s promises, Més per Mallorca also wants a 60% increase in tourist taxes to help boost the economy for the local community. The tourist tax is currently €4 for those staying in luxury hotels, €3 for those staying in cheap hotels or apartments, and €2 for tourists.
One of Ibiza’s most loved clubs, Hï Ibiza, was this week voted the number 1 club in the world in DJ Mag’s Top 100 Clubs 2023 poll.
