The Employers Association of Maritime Activities Employers (APEAM) has reaffirmed its support for the new yacht charter decree approved by the Balearic Government last August, and has disassociated the sector from the criticisms launched by newly created associations. According to the employers, the “alarmist” messages spread in recent weeks do not conform to the real market situation and respond to the attempt to maintain practices that compromise the quality, safety and reputation of the Balearic Islands as a nautical destination.
APEAM argues that boats for professional rental cannot be considered assets subject to accelerated depreciation. The entity recalls that, with proper maintenance, these assets can retain or even increase their value, and stresses that they are the only non-real estate asset that allows its legal mortgage, a fact that, in his opinion, dismantles the claims about alleged “millionaire losses” in case of cessation of activity, as published by Economía de Mallorca.
The employers also defends the requirement to have a home port, one of the main novelties of the decree. It assures that this obligation contributes to ensure revisions, repairs and periodic cleaning tasks, reinforcing the technical control of the boats and guaranteeing minimum standards of quality and security during the whole tourist season.
In relation to the market decline, APEAM rejects that it is linked to the new regulations and stresses that the decree was approved with the season already advanced. He notes that the decline in the nautical charter has been recorded throughout the Spanish Mediterranean coast. He cites data from the National Association of Marine (ANEN), which reflect a year-on-year decline of 20% in registrations for rental at the state level, especially in large boats and smaller ones. According to this entity, the sector is undergoing a process of “normalization” after the exceptional growth recorded in the years following the pandemic.
APEAM adds that the current tourism situation also affects the results: despite the increase in visitors, the average expenditure per tourist has decreased, stays are shorter and the turnover linked to consumption has suffered, factors that directly affect the demand for nautical charter.
The entity concludes that the new decree is a necessary tool to strengthen the sector, professionalize the activity and offer a stable regulatory framework at a time of market adjustment. In its opinion, the regulation will consolidate a more competitive, orderly and resilient model in the medium and long term.
