The president of the Government of the Balearic Islands, Margalida Prohens, announced during the opening of the International Tourism Fair (FITUR) in Madrid “the largest mobilization of resources ever seen in our islands,” with more than 1.12 billion euros earmarked for the sustainability and modernization of the tourist destination. Prohens detailed that this historic investment comes from the Next Generation EU Funds, with a total of 260 million euros, and the Sustainable Tourism Tax (ITS), which has raised 860 million since its creation in 2016. According to the president, these resources are essential to address the “ambitious challenge of transformation” that seeks to combine the Balearic Islands’ tourism success with sustainability and the welfare of its population. In her speech, she stressed that the funds are primarily intended for projects related to the environment and the water cycle, although they also cover areas such as tourism deseasonalization, conservation of historical heritage, responsible tourism, research and development, as well as training and job quality in the tourism sector. The Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sports, Jaume Bauzà, has assured that “trust is built with transparency and example” and has presented a QR code that will allow residents and visitors to consult in real time information about the projects financed with the ITS. According to Bauzà, this digital tool is essential to strengthen the relationship between tourism and the local community.
The three axes for Prohens at Fitur
The president of the Government, Margalida Prohens, stressed that “the Balearic Islands are the first destination to face with determination the challenge faced by all tourist destinations: to combine their success with sustainability and the well-being of residents and visitors”. Prohens detailed the three fundamental axes on which this transformation is based:
- Repositioning strategy: The Balearic Islands is committed to becoming a destination for cultural and sports tourism, moving towards deseasonalization and prioritizing growth in value rather than volume.
- Historic mobilization of resources: More than 1.12 billion euros earmarked for the transformation, sustainability and modernization of the archipelago, with a special focus on the natural environment and the water cycle, thanks to the Next Generation EU Funds and the Sustainable Tourism Tax.
- Political and social pact for sustainability: On February 27, the Government will bring together all the agents involved to close the first phase of this strategy with a document of concrete objectives that will guide the transformation process.
“Everything we do, from the tourism strategy to investments and participatory measures, aims to ensure sustainability, the welfare of our residents and an optimal experience for visitors,” said the president. Prohens concluded that “the reason for the transformation that the Balearic Islands are facing is you”, addressing both residents and tourists.
Campaign “You are the reason”.
During FITUR, the Government launched the “You are the reason” campaign , aimed at informing both residents and tourists about the benefits of these investments. Prohens explained that this initiative reinforces the Balearic Islands’ commitment as the first destination to resolutely face the challenge of combining tourism success with environmental sustainability and the well-being of the local population. “This transformation is a collective project, where people’s well-being is at the center. As our campaign says, ‘the reason is you’,” concluded the president.
Next meeting of the Sustainability Pact
Prohens took advantage of his speech at FITUR to announce that a new meeting of the Social and Political Pact for Sustainability will be held on February 27, with the participation of all stakeholders. This meeting will culminate the first phase of the transformation plan with the presentation of a consensus document that will serve as a guide for the second stage, focused on concrete proposals. The document, prepared under the technical direction of Professor Antoni Riera, has been nourished by 576 contributions received through the online platform, closed in November 2024. Prohens emphasized that this process reflects a “rigorous and consensual, bottom-up” work, which seeks to integrate citizen opinion in strategic decisions.
