Habtur criticizes the ban on new tourist rentals in Palma.

PalmThe Association of Tourist Accommodations of the Balearic Islands (Habtur) has strongly criticized the intention of the mayor of Palma, Jaime Martínez, to Ban all new tourist rental housing in Palma"We don't fully understand the reason for this announcement. It's a disgrace," said Maria Gibert, manager of the tourist rental association, emphasizing that, to move forward with this initiative, "we must modify Palma's General Plan, which isn't exactly easy." "Palma has more important problems that can't be resolved with this type of announcement," she added.

Gibert interprets this announcement as "for the future" and regrets that the mayor "takes it for granted." In fact, Martínez assured that the initiative "is already prepared" and will be implemented "as soon as possible." Gibert compared the 1,489 regulated beds—according to the Balearic Islands Open Data Catalog—of the 639 tourist apartments in Palma with the 44,000 (including Palma and Playa de Palma) hotel beds in the municipality. "It's ridiculous," she concluded.

For his part, Francisco Serrano, president of the Palma and Cala Mayor Hotel Association (ASHPAMA), congratulated the mayor and his team for "the courage and wisdom of the measures regarding vacation rentals." He also considered that "it is a decision that protects residents, reinforces the quality tourism model, and responds to a real demand from citizens." However, Serrano emphasized that he "trusts compliance with controls on both regulated and illegal rentals." "The eradication of illegal vacation rentals is essential for sustainable and fair tourism," he added.

Finally, the president of the Playa de Palma Hotel Association, Pedro Marín, hoped that all administrations would implement these types of decisions, since "the housing problem has become a strategic challenge for our community."