They accuse the Government of financing a luxury golf tournament with public money

PalmaFridays for Future Mallorca has criticized the Government for allocating public funds to promote the Rolex Golf Final, an international golf tournament taking place in Mallorca, and has questioned the funding of such events while the public is asked to reduce water consumption. The environmental organization believes that public resources should prioritize environmental protection and the needs of residents in the face of the effects of tourism pressure.

In a statement, the collective denounced that the Mallorca Responsible Tourism Foundation granted a subsidy of 250,000 euros last year to promote the tournament, which has been held on the island since 2019. According to the entity, the promotion agreement has been extended until 2030.

The use of the tourist tax, in question

The organization focuses on the origin of the resources used to promote the competition and questions the use of funds linked to the sustainable tourism tax, known as the ecotax, to support an event of this nature. According to Fridays for Future, these funds should be used primarily to protect natural resources and address environmental problems derived from tourism pressure.

The group has also questioned the impact of golf on Mallorca's water resources. According to their data, the sector accounts for around 4% of the island's total water consumption and has 24 courses occupying about 750 hectares.

Fridays for Future acknowledges that part of the irrigation for the courses comes from reclaimed wastewater, but questions why these resources are used to maintain golf facilities when, as they argue, they could contribute to meeting the needs of the agricultural sector. The entity makes this criticism following the water supply restrictions recorded this summer in several municipalities in Mallorca.

Criticisms of sustainability measures

The criticisms are also directed at the Alcanada Golf Club, in Alcúdia, where the tournament takes place. The environmental organization accuses the club of "greenwashing" with initiatives such as donations for reforestation and organic farming projects.

According to Fridays for Future, the 5,000 euros raised last year through this initiative is an insufficient amount given the magnitude of the environmental impacts associated with the tourism model that, in their view, the event helps to promote.

The group also considers other sustainability measures linked to the tournament to be insufficient, such as the use of reusable bottles, the installation of containers for waste separation, and the availability of buses for participants.

"These types of measures do not provide a response or solution to the global climate emergency situation and the serious problems facing the Mallorcan population," the organization warned.

A call to change priorities

Given this situation, Fridays for Future Mallorca demands stricter regulation of the destination of the ecotax funds and urges the Government to review its priorities regarding tourism promotion.

The organization argues that public resources should be allocated to protecting the environment and responding to the needs of the resident population, instead of financing the promotion of luxury tourism events.