The Spanish Mediterranean island of Mallorca is for German tourists especially popular. To find popular, some of its inhabitants: such As Mallorca tries to bring the excesses of “over tourism” under control.
Fear of authorities, Joan Forteza has not. “Up there he, the mayor sits,” says the 68-Year-old, pointing to a window in the first floor of the town hall. “There he is, just let it happen.” Under the eyes of mayor of the city day is to-day the same scene: The host of a café directly on Palma’s town hall square presents in the morning, chairs and tables on the cobblestones, without caring in the Slightest about how much of him actually exists. Suit car on the way to work, families with children, grandmothers with walking stick – they all need to run to the terrace, while the tables of holiday makers to your Cappuccino sipping.
Inhabitants well before mass tourism
Joan Forteza on the town hall square in Palma
For Forteza an absurdity. “We want in to Palma, especially the interests of the inhabitants be respected,” he says. “We want to be here, not just tolerated.” Forteza is the Chairman of the Federation of residents associations of Palma and one of the most active citizens, activists of the city. If it must be, he with each. His fight against the Gastro-terraces symbolizes a in the Mallorcan population is now widespread feeling that the excesses of mass tourism finally tackled effectively, will find many.
Also Antoni Noguera. The 39-Year-old left politician, is the mayor of the capital of the island and could well be the son of Joan Forteza. This morning Noguera came to the Playa de Palma. Hundreds of thousands of Germans spend here every year their holidays here, the “ball man”, although this Name should belong to Nogueras will of the past, who stands for the kind of binge alcoholism, you would abolish in Mallorca prefer today instead of tomorrow.
Quality instead of mass
Popular Photo Motif: Palmas Promenade
The new Motto of the Playa de Palma “Palma Beach”. Under this brand have done a few dozen entrepreneurs that want to make the tourists a mile before the gates Palmas to send destination: Cocktails instead of a bucket of booze, Chilling out instead of Roar, Ceviche instead of Sausage. Today, in the presence of the mayor of the plaques, where in the future, “Palma Beach”-are Local to detect. “We want Palma is a successful city, but no city, which goes to your success is based,” says Noguera. So there is now this quality offensive. But not only that. To the Party holiday-makers in the barriers, to hard the local police this summer. The purpose of the city Council declared the tourists a mile to a special zone in which, among other things, the consumption of alcohol on the street is prohibited.
It is not the first measure with the mass tourism to be drawn to Majorca in the more orderly orbits. The flagship project of the Balearic regional government in this term is the introduction of the tourist tax. Since July of 2016, holidaymakers have to pay, depending on the Season and category of accommodation per Night between 25 cents and four euros. In the past year alone, the Balearic Islands, the government took on almost 123 million Euro. The money flows not only in nature conservation is promoted, for example, the preservation of the cultural and historical heritage. While most of the tourists reacted with understanding, were the Hoteliers up in arms against the levy and the conservative Opposition in the Balearic Parliament announced already, you want to at least reduce, should they win the upcoming regional election at the end of may.
A Source Of Tourism
The once infamous “Ballermann 6” is today a normal beach local
“On the Islands many people live directly or indirectly from tourism,” says the Balearic tourism Minister Bel Busquets. “But still, we need to regulate this activity, especially since the Islands only have limited space and resources.” Twelve million tourists came last year to Majorca, including 4.3 million Germans. The island has recorded the year new attendance records, 1000 euros each Tourist spends on average on the island, two thirds of all employees living from the business with the travelers.
This is the a side. The increasing lack of water, a year on year growing mountain of waste, clogging their beaches and tens of thousands of car, the plug in the summer months, the streets, the other side. In the summer months about the traffic on the country road to the lighthouse on the Formentor Peninsula in the North of Mallorca is collapsing on a daily basis. To prevent this, will be blocked the access road to there, the same as last year, this summer, for the individual traffic. During the day, then you get only with a Shuttle Bus to the popular tourist destination.
Restrictions on rentals
It can be full in the alleys of the old town – the street vendors below the Cathedral of Palma
Perhaps the most radical decision, however, concerns the rental of holiday apartments. After the tourist offer was grown mainly in Palma in the past few years, so massive that the island residents could not find affordable housing, the city Council resolved last year, a complete ban on the holiday rental in multi-family houses. By the way, at the request of the local residents Association, had initiated a citizens ‘ petition.
Satisfied but Joan Forteza is not for a long time. Instead, he now fights against the Gastro-terraces. “I also like to be outside and have a drink,” he says. “But we need rules that apply to all.” A first success can be reported: The city Council is now transferred to mark in front of each Locally to the terrace area with yellow color. Only the adherence to which should control someone else.