The Sustainable Tourism Tax (ITS) of the Balearic Islands will allocate in 2025, for the first time since this tax was approved in 2016, funds to combat illegal tourism supply, which is one of the main concerns of the public administration and the sector itself. The illegal tourist offer is the“great scourge of tourism“, hence the need to devote public funds to minimize its impact on the Balearic economy, said Monday at a press conference the Minister of Tourism, Jaume Bauzà. This Monday has met, after 20 years, the inter-island commission for the coordination of tourism management, in which the Government has informed the island councils that in 2025 will have items of the eco-tax to fight illegal tourism. During the meeting, the heads of Tourism of the consells have put on the table projects eligible for subsidies, some of which are valued between 2 and 5 million euros, such as implementing the tourist inspection staff on each island or have new technological tools to pursue illegal supply. The conseller Bauzà recalled that the competences of Tourism are delegated to each of the councils, which are “very involved in the fight” against illegal supply, as well as the regional executive, he said. “There is concern about this issue in the sector, in society and in the councils and in the Govern”, insisted the head of Tourism, who stressed that “for the first time” money from the eco-tax will be used for this purpose. The councils have explained that the problems of tourism is “different” in each territory, as well as the solutions to the phenomenon of overcrowded tourism. In a few days the Conselleria will inform of the initiatives that will receive aid from the ITS against the illegal offer. On the occasion of the next celebration of the World Travel Market (WTM) in London, the Government will explain to hoteliers and tour operators the work it is developing together with the councils “to face” the problem of illegal supply. The Conseller of Tourism of Mallorca, José Marcial Rodríguez, has celebrated the willingness of the Conselleria to face the rest of the tourism sector and has recognized that the island councils “do not have infinite resources”. From the Consell de Formentera, Artal Mayans said that it is “very important” that the needs of the smaller Balearic islands “are also heard” and are attended to in a particular way. In this context he thanked the “fluid dialogue” between the Consell de Formentera and the Conselleria de Turismo, which is “the right line” for effective joint work.
