The Hotel Business Federation of Mallorca (FEHM) and the Federation of Small and Medium Enterprises of Mallorca (Pimem) have expressed their concern about the squatting of a hotel in Cala Bona, in the municipality of Son Servera. This event, carried out by an organized group of about 30 people, has set off alarm bells in the tourism and business sector of the island.
In Ibiza, after the 2021 season was squatted the hotel Club Punta Arabí, owned by Francisca Sánchez Ordóñez Paquita Marsan, and that next season will be managed by Fergus after refurbishment works to reposition it. The FEHM, through its executive vice president, María José Aguiló, has demanded immediate measures for the eviction of the establishment and has called for a regulatory framework that “delegitimizes these criminal behaviors” and protects entrepreneurs from situations of defenselessness. According to Aguiló, the impact of the squatting goes beyond private property, also affecting jobs linked to the establishment, which was about to resume its activity after the low season. For its part, Pimem has warned that this problem, traditionally linked to housing, is being transferred to tourist accommodation, industrial warehouses and agricultural estates, seriously damaging small and medium-sized businesses. Its president, Jordi Mora, pointed out that “companies cannot afford private security and are especially vulnerable due to legislation that is too lax”.
The case of the Sol y Mar aparthotel
The incident occurred at the Sol y Mar aparthotel, closed for the season, where the squatters were installed in several rooms, justifying their stay with tickets for recent purchases. The owner, after being alerted, filed a complaint with the Guardia Civil, but tensions increased when the squatters also filed coercion complaints against him. An eviction company set up an access control at the door of the building, allowing people to leave but not to enter, which generated moments of tension. The establishment remains blocked, while the authorities analyze how to proceed.
Institutional reactions
The FEHM has held meetings with the president of the Balearic Government, Marga Prohens, to address the impact of this phenomenon on the tourism and business sector. Aguiló has emphasized that “the Administration has mechanisms to assist people in need, but the violation of private property cannot be allowed”. Both federations agree that this situation generates economic, social and image damage for Mallorca, especially in a context where tourism is a fundamental pillar of the island’s economy.
