Menorca: 24,000 beds could mean more flights

Up to 24,000 extra tourist beds planned for Menorca could bring more aircraft to the island, the PSOE has warned. The party’s island secretary-general, Pepe Mercadal, made the claim on Wednesday, 16 September. He said the Partido Popular had already reactivated about 1,000 tourist places.

Mercadal accused the PP of saying it does not want tourist numbers to rise while backing rules that would create thousands more places. If air traffic to Menorca increases in future, he said, it will be because the party has achieved its aim of expanding tourist capacity.

The Socialist politician said the Menorca Island Council, as the island’s government, holds the powers over land planning and tourism to decide how many tourist places the island has. He called the focus on aircraft a PP distraction from the number of beds it wants to add.

He pointed to Eivissa, where more than twice as many aircraft arrive as in Menorca despite its population not being much larger, according to Mercadal. He said Eivissa has far more tourist places.

Mercadal also criticised PP governments in Palma, Mallorca, and the Menorca Island Council. He said PSOE would repeal the rules now being promoted and use the council’s powers to plan Menorca and curb overcrowding if the party enters government.

Menorca: 24,000 tourist beds could mean more flights