"Maximum tourist pressure": the Government maneuvers to avoid the effects of the eclipse

PalmaThe privileged position of the Balearic Islands to see the eclipse on August 12th brings with it an undesirable consequence: it could mean the peak of "maximum tourist pressure" of the summer. The President of the Government, Marga Prohens, admitted this risk in Parliament this Tuesday, and assured that the Executive has taken measures to avoid congestion. For example, access to the Serra de Tramuntana will be restricted. However, she has left the final decision in the hands of the technicians.

The president responded thus to a parliamentary question from the leader of MÉS per Mallorca, Lluís Apesteguia, who demanded the closure of the Serra de Tramuntana 24 hours before the eclipse to everyone who is not a resident or has accredited accommodation in this area. The tourism sector, she warned, has already announced that reservations for this date have increased by 19.1%.

Based on last summer's human pressure data, the eco-sovereigntist has calculated that Mallorca could receive 1.6 million people on that day, and the Islands, 2.2 million, and has warned that these tourists could concentrate in the same areas. Similarly, it has warned that the eclipse management commission constituted by the Government has only published safety and mobility recommendations, but no measures to prevent the collapse of the Serra, one of the hot spots, as it will allow a good view of the phenomenon. This, it has warned, could lead to chaos and security problems for residents.

Criticism of the Spanish government

President Prohens defended herself against these criticisms by insisting that she had "anticipated" the Spanish government's decisions, and criticized that the Secretary of State for Tourism of the Balearic Islands, Rosario Sánchez, had invited during Fitur to visit the Archipelago for the eclipse.