Mallorca: 51m passengers ignite tourism row

A forecast of around 51 million air passengers in the Balearics has triggered a fresh tourism row. In Palma on Monday, PSIB parliamentary spokesman Iago Negueruela accused the Balearic government of pursuing a “permanent policy of lies”. He said its approach would bring more tourists, flights, ships and cars, increasing pressure on people across the islands.

Negueruela said the government had rejected a rise in the Sustainable Tourism Tax, known as ITS, while seeking lower airport charges for Ryanair and Easyjet. He also attacked plans to promote low-season routes to Dubai, Qatar and Abu Dhabi.

The socialist spokesman turned on airport operator Aena too, saying airports were becoming “a kind of market stall”. PSIB opposes expansions at Palma and Eivissa airports.

He also challenged the PP over the airport regulation document, DORA III. Negueruela said the party could not call for better infrastructure while demanding lower airport charges. He argued that the government knew about the forecast of around 51 million passengers for 2021.

On Mallorca, Negueruela said he was alarmed that a plan which had proposed cutting 18,000 tourist places will not be revised after the Consell de Mallorca said it would not alter its tourism plan. He opposed any further hotel or holiday-let places, saying they would allow more tourists and add pressure on citizens.

His demand was for no new tourist places, no extra airport flights and no lower charges, alongside a higher ITS and a moratorium to reduce tourist places.

PP parliamentary spokesman Sebastià Sagreras rejected the accusation. He said the PP opposed any increase in airport capacity and did not understand Aena’s forecast of up to 51 million passengers. The government, he said, backed investment to improve airport infrastructure rather than expansion.

Topics: Tourism · Politics · Palma

Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com