Mallorca tells EU: islands need a say on tourism
Mallorca is pushing the European Union to stop shaping tourism policy from afar and take island life into account. On Wednesday, the Council of Mallorca’s tourism councillor, Guillem Ginard, put that case to European Commission tourism director Mona Bjorklund at Ca n’Oleo in Palma, Mallorca. He said limited resources mean islands must balance economic activity with sustainability, coexistence and quality of life.
Bjorklund requested the meeting to hear directly about tourism across the Balearic Islands, the differences between each island and policies aimed at a more sustainable, balanced and competitive model. Representatives from the Council of Ibiza, Ibiza Town Hall, the Mallorca Hotel Business Federation, Turistec and the University of the Balearic Islands also attended.
Ginard said the Council of Mallorca wants to bring its own experience and solutions into European decisions. Europe, he argued, should see islands as places where people live, not simply as holiday destinations.
The talks also covered how destinations are managed, sustainability, rules for tourism supply, action against illegal offers, digital change and data management. AnySolution, which coordinated the meeting and European Commission tourism projects, helped bring the different bodies together.
Ginard will continue the exchange on Thursday at the D3HUB Final Event – Tourism of Tomorrow Data-Driven Destinations Hub. The event will examine how data and technology can help destinations tackle tourism challenges and improve their management.
Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com