Platges de Comte, at the limit: they triple their capacity with 1,500 bathers
The Ibiza Sustainability Observatory warns of space saturation and demands management measures in the face of tourist pressure that also extends to parking
PalmaPlatges de Comte almost tripled its estimated physical capacity this summer, with 1,513 people at the same time, according to a pilot study by the Ibiza & Formentera Preservation Sustainability Observatory. The data was recorded on August 4 at 3:00 PM, when the beach far exceeded the 537 people it is considered able to accommodate according to the criteria applied in the study.
The analysis, prepared based on counts made between August 1 and 4, compares the situation of Platges de Comte, a semi-natural space, with that of the urban beach of Santa Eulària. The differences are notable: while Platges de Comte reached a concentration of 1,513 people, Santa Eulària recorded a maximum of 618, well below its estimated capacity of 2,225 users.
Only 2.67 square meters per person
Platges de Comte have a surface area of about 4,025 square meters, an extent that places its physical capacity below 600 people. At the time of maximum influx, each user had only 2.67 square meters, almost five meters less than the 7.50 square meters established by the reference indicator.
Saturation was not limited to a specific moment. The average weekday influx was 1,073 people, practically double the estimated capacity, with an available surface area of 3.75 square meters per person.
According to the Observatory, these occupancy levels can have consequences both on the natural beach and dune system and on the user experience. The entity considers that having this data allows for beginning to objectively measure the pressure that each space supports and to guide its management.
888 parked vehicles
The pressure on Comte beaches is not limited to the sand. The study also counted the vehicles parked in the vicinity of the beach, with a maximum of 888 vehicles on weekdays and 756 during the weekend. The daily average was 622 vehicles.
The two parking lots near the beach and the restaurants jointly occupy about 29,526 square meters of protected rustic land, distributed in different protection categories. Currently, according to the Observatory, this space does not have any specific parking regulation.
In contrast, at Santa Eulària beach, with 16,688 square meters, the maximum recorded was 618 people, only 27.8% of the estimated physical capacity. In this case, the available surface area reached 27 square meters per person.
Given the differences between the two spaces, the Observatory calls for continuity in monitoring and proposing measures adapted to each beach when it is recurrently detected that the carrying capacity is exceeded.
