Mallorca forum urges 10-year tourism pact as housing bites

Mallorca hosts a call for a ten-year pact to reshape tourism across the Balearic Islands. The proposal comes from a forum held in Palma, Mallorca, where speakers warned that high housing costs make it harder to attract and keep skilled workers. The Association for Management Progress published the forum’s conclusions on Wednesday, 14 October, after business owners, executives and others met on 18 June.

A different use for tourism’s strengths

The forum wants the islands to test new ideas and technology for tourism. It says the large number of visitors and strong links with the rest of Europe could help the Balearics develop those ideas. Technology, it argues, could create more value while using less land and fewer resources.

Its proposed ten-year pact would last beyond changes of government and give priority to specific projects. Alongside tourism, the forum wants to strengthen technology, knowledge-based work, light industry and the circular economy.

Housing and investment stand in the way

The islands can train qualified workers, particularly in engineering, the forum says. But housing costs make it harder to keep them or bring in others. Its answer combines skilled jobs and competitive pay with affordable housing.

The forum also wants Balearic businesses to grow and work abroad, backed by more public support. Jaime Llinás, who heads Abanca’s Balearic business centre, says firms need fewer bureaucratic obstacles and better conditions for investment.

That investment is essential to changing tourism, the forum argues. It calls for simpler administrative procedures, faster progress on strategic projects and closer cooperation between public bodies and businesses.

Topics: Tourism · Economy · Palma

Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com