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The Balearic Islands Government Announces New Funding to Support Responsible and Sustainable Tourism

The Balearic Islands Government Announces New Funding to Support Responsible and Sustainable Tourism

The the Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Sport for the Balearic Islands, Jaume Bauzà, held a press conference at World Travel Market 2024 where they announced details of new measures that emphasise the archipelago’s commitment to a responsible and sustainable tourism model that collaborates with local communities to ensure tourism is a positive driver in the Balearics.

At the press conference, Bauzà underlined the importance of tourism to the Balearic Islands as the main economic engine of the archipelago, however and recognised the challenges that a booming tourism industry presents with Bauza stating “we must undergo a transition to make our destination more competitive, offer higher quality, and, above all, to ensure environmental sustainability”.

Details were revealed of funding that has been mobilised to transform the Balearic Islands into the leading destination in responsible and sustainable tourism. In addition to €260 million from European Funds, over €470 million from the Sustainable Tourism Tax is going towards financing destination improvement, recovery of cultural and historical heritage, research and training, water management, sustainability projects, and the promotion of safe and responsible tourism. Public administrations, including the regional government, island councils, and municipalities, now have access to grants for projects that both benefit local residents and enhance the tourist experience.

Bauzà also drew attention to an important step taken earlier this year in amending the Responsible Tourism Decree Law to allocate a total of €16 million annually from the Sustainable Tourism Tax to four municipalities (Palma, Calvià, Llucmajor, and Sant Antoni de Portmany) which will support them in carrying out projects focused on inspection, safety, and raising awareness of the importance of responsible tourism.

Bauzà thanked the Embassy and the British Consulate for its cooperation in implementing these steps however recognised the need to “go much further in terms of our objectives, setting ourselves the undeniable goal of ensuring that our success in tourism is also capable of guaranteeing the wellbeing of the citizens of the Balearic Islands.”

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With that in mind, the Balearics Government has launched a participatory process for the transformation of its tourism model with more than a hundred institutions and entities pulling in the same direction to reach a social and political pact to be an economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable destination. Bauzà acknowledged the responsibility the Balearics has as a leading tourism destination to be a benchmark in terms of environmental sustainability and the wellbeing of its citizens.

While these advancements to the tourism model should be applauded, it should not go unnoticed the strides the Balearic Islands has made with the existing strategy that unites Tourism, Culture and Sport to create a distinctive and compelling tourism proposition. Bauzà discussed how each island’s rich cultural heritage, vibrant festivals, and unique traditions offer visitors a chance to explore an authentic side of the islands, beyond the usual sights. The ideal climate and diverse landscapes also make the islands a premier destination for sports tourism, with events like the Mallorca 312 cycling tour, the Princess Sofia Trophy regatta, the Cami de Cavalls trail in Menorca, the Ibiza Marathon, and the Formenteranas Triathlon. The Minister emphasised the need to foster a harmonious relationship between tourists and residents, “always seeking a balance to make the Balearic Islands a welcoming destination.”

This strategy has paid off and managed to encourage deseasonalisation and improved tourist spend. Looking at the latest statistics, the archipelago has seen a 4.4% increase in the number of visitors from January to September 2024 compared to the same period as last year. This increase in visitors is mainly concentrated in the first quarter of the year showing the efforts made to flatten the summer peak and distribute the economic benefits of tourism year-round. Furthermore, the strategy is also seeing the destination’s tourism grow in value rather than volume. Tourist spending on the islands is currently twice as high as the increase in visitors. Just looking at British travellers alone, the average spend per person on the islands is currently €1,219.70, 5.7% higher than the average spend per Brit in 2023.