The government of the Balearic Islands believes that the sanctions that will apply from now on to illegal tourism will help to curb it. The fines will be of up to 400,000 euros for websites making money from the process, and up to 40,000 euros for property owners.
The Balearic government has also given the limit currently allowed in Mallorca: 437,707 places in total (in hotels and elsewhere). More than 90,000 are calculated to be from legal rent, but the rest form part of a previously uncontrolled market.
The vice president and minister of Tourism for the Balearic Islands, Biel Barceló, has said that the aim is “to eventually reach a much more balanced and much more sustainable model”. Some of the problems provoked by the vocational rent are confrontations between residents and antisocial tourists, the occupation of public space and the increase in house prices.
For the time being, however, the upper limit that the councils of Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera will set is unknown, as they have local jurisdiction over tourism legislation. In the case of Ibiza, strong restrictions are predicted as a consequence of the lack of properties available for long-term rent.