People enjoying the sunny weather at a terrace bar on Magaluf Beach in Mallorca, Balearic Island, Spain.Reuters
Europe has introduced a series of tourist regulations aimed at reducing mass tourism to popular holiday spots.
Spain’s Balearic Islands are the most recent, with tougher laws against party boats and public drinking.
This is part of amendments to the 2020 legislation to address “over-tourism”.
According to the BBC, Sant Antoni on the island of Ibiza, Playa de Palma and Magaluf on the island of Magarca are among the famous destinations where the government claims to be tightening the law.
Here’s everything we know about it.
New rules for “responsible tourism”
The new law, which was approved on May 10, includes a “total ban on the sale of alcohol between 9:30pm and 8am” in shops in tourist hotspots, The Sun reported. Reported.
Drinking alcohol on the streets is also prohibited in major tourist destinations in Ibiza and Mallorca, except on terraces and other authorized areas.
This rule will be implemented in the areas of Ibiza most affected by the large number of tourists, such as Lucmayor, Palma, Calvia (Magaluf) and Sant Antoni.
Violators will be fined between EUR 500 (Rs 45,000) and EUR 1,500 (Rs 1,35,025).
According to the BBC, the new law will tally fines imposed on foreign nationals and send the results to the relevant embassy.
According to the law, party boats that serve alcohol on board will be prohibited from entering designated areas within nautical miles (1.852 kilometers).
Passengers will be prohibited from boarding and alighting at the affected locations.
Tourists relax and have a drink at a terrace bar on Paguera Beach in Calvia, Mallorca, Spain, after Berlin lifted quarantine requirements for travelers returning from the Balearic Islands.Reuters
The rule will apply until at least December 31, 2027, The Sun reported.
The government changed the 2020 decree against “excessive tourism” to refer to “responsible tourism”, even though the new regulations aim to further curb destructive behavior.
The update acknowledged that the initial statement contradicted the island’s primary industry, noting that “tourism accounts for more than 45 percent of the community’s GDP.”
The 16 million euro (approximately $17.2 million) sustainable tourism tax will be used by the newly revised Responsible Tourism Ordinance to support projects that promote responsible tourism in affected areas.
Suppression of anti-social behavior
The Canary Islands have long served as a popular destination for young tourists and global celebrities.
According to statistics from the local chamber of commerce, 13.9 million tourists will visit the island in 2023, an increase of 13% from the previous year. This is roughly six times the number of the 2.2 million people living on the island.
Although the islands are also a popular destination for Spaniards living on the mainland, the largest tourist markets are the United Kingdom and Germany.
According to CNN, early media reports that “discourteous behavior in certain tourist destinations” in Mallorca and Ibiza were mainly related to alcohol consumption led to the introduction of the original 22-article law in 2020. urged.
This action tarnished the reputation of the place and created a nightlife environment that made the place less attractive to local residents.
The decree points out that serious injuries and deaths occur, and states that “news stories about disrespectful acts by young tourists are reported every year, causing deep concern to the rest of the public, the hotel industry, and the relevant administrations. ” he said.
The Decree sets out regulations, penalties, and other measures for deterring destructive or harmful acts regarding the accommodation, marketing, and sale of alcoholic beverages.
The 2020 regulations have proven effective in reducing anti-social behavior, said Luis Pomar, media representative for the Balearic Islands Tourism Council, as reported by the BBC. He added that he hopes the law will not be needed “within three or four years, if we teach people how to behave.”
He said the committee on “promoting civility in tourist destinations” would be expanded to include members from the United Kingdom and Germany, where visitors are most often implicated in the issue.
The regional government claimed it was the first in Europe to impose restrictions on the advertising and sale of alcohol in specific tourist destinations when it introduced the law in 2020.
He said the new policy would “combat excess” and “force real change in the tourism model of these destinations”.
Protest against excessive tourism
The move from Mallorca comes after thousands of people protested in Tenerife last month demanding restrictions on holidaymakers, according to The Sun.
More than 15,000 people waved Canary Islands flags, honked horns and let out deafening roars in the capital Santa Cruz.
They blamed the explosion in tourist numbers from 11.5 million to 16 million a year over the past decade, forcing paying tourists from their homes and causing environmental damage.
People hold a large demonstration march in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain, against the tourism industry, which affects local residents, including inaccessibility to housing. AP
Messages in English such as “My misery, your paradise” and “The average salary in the Canary Islands is 1,200 euros” were written on the walls and seats inside the resort.
The National Institute of Statistics (INE) estimates that 34% of Canary Islanders will be at risk of poverty or social exclusion in 2023, the second highest in Spain after Andalusia. It becomes.
The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the island’s capital, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, said on social media that it “believes we need to think about the future” of the tourism industry.
However, he warned against what he called “tourism phobia”, given that the tourism sector accounts for 40% of the islands’ employment and 35% of its GDP.
Fernando Clavijo, regional president of the Canary Islands, emphasized the island’s dependence on tourism, calling it a “successful model”.
Nevertheless, he acknowledged that the April 20 demonstrations had given him an opportunity to reconsider that approach.
Countermeasures against tourists across Europe
Overcrowding has emerged as the biggest problem in many popular tourist destinations, and authorities are working to find solutions that satisfy both tourists and locals.
According to The Sun, authorities are trying to reduce the impact on tourists by raising tourist taxes and banning the construction of new hotels.
Earlier this year, Venice began charging 5 euros (450 rupees) for day-trippers to the ancient Italian center, becoming the first city in the world to charge tourists an entrance fee.
Subsequently, neighborhoods in Barcelona removed popular bus routes from Apple and Google Maps in an effort to prevent large numbers of tourists from using their buses.
San Sebastian, in northern Spain, is capping the number of participants on guided tours at 25 to prevent crowding, noise, congestion and other problems, according to reports. Construction of new hotels has already been prohibited by the city.
In Andalusia, the Spanish government has allowed restaurants to charge a premium for customers sitting in the shade.
According to reports, swimming in the sea from midnight to 7am can cost as much as 1,000 pounds (Rs 1,04,585), which is why Benidorm is imposing a time limit.
Greece currently imposes a tourist tax during the high season (March to October), with tourists paying between 1 euro (approximately 90 rupees) and 4 euros (360 rupees) each night depending on the accommodation booked. become.
In Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, authorities are considering imposing a tax to encourage tourists to be considerate of others when traveling.
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