The Balearic Government has announced a series of new measures aimed at strengthening the fight against illegal tourist accommodation, including the introduction of daily coercive fines of between €500 and €5,000 for operators who continue offering unlicensed tourist accommodation after being officially ordered to stop.
The measures were presented during the second meeting of the Balearic Islands’ Anti-Intrusion Task Force (Mesa de Lluita contra l’Intrusisme), which took place on the 6th of July, where representatives from the Government, island councils, municipalities, law enforcement agencies and tourism organisations met to discuss new ways of tackling illegal economic activity across the islands.
According to the Government, the new daily fines will only apply after tourism inspectors have formally required an operator to cease illegal tourist activity. If the operator ignores that order and continues advertising or renting the property, coercive fines of between €500 and €5,000 per day may be imposed until compliance is achieved. In cases of continued non-compliance, the matter may also be referred to the Public Prosecutor’s Office for a possible offence of disobedience.
Alongside the new financial penalties, the Government has approved additional measures designed to strengthen enforcement. These include greater protection for legally registered tourist accommodation against unlawful occupation, allowing security forces to provide immediate assistance in cases affecting regulated tourist establishments.
The Government has also introduced a new protocol to improve cooperation between Local Police and tourism inspection services. Initially being implemented in Ibiza, the protocol will allow information gathered during police interventions to support tourism inspections and help detect illegal tourist accommodation more effectively. The Government has indicated that the initiative could later be extended to the other Balearic Islands.
Tourism, Culture and Sports Minister Jaume Bauzá said the measures provide the island councils with stronger tools to prevent, detect and eliminate illegal tourist activity, while improving coordination between the different public authorities responsible for enforcement.
The announcements form part of the Balearic Government’s wider strategy to combat illegal economic activity and protect the quality and reputation of the islands’ tourism sector.
What does this mean for property in Mallorca?
For licensed holiday rental owners and registered tourism businesses across Mallorca, the new measures are intended to create a fairer operating environment by strengthening enforcement against illegal tourist accommodation. By introducing daily coercive fines for operators who continue offering unlicensed accommodation after being ordered to stop, the Balearic Government aims to improve compliance with tourism regulations and support businesses that operate legally.
Together with enhanced cooperation between tourism inspectors and police forces, the measures form part of a wider strategy to reduce illegal tourist activity and protect the integrity of the Balearic Islands’ regulated tourism sector. For properties with an ever more valuable ETV license, these changes are set to make them even more valuable and the potential for rental income on those properties even higher as the demand increases but the number of elegible properties available to rent for 30 days or less decreases.
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