The conflict between the Balearic Government and the central government for the regulation of private boat rentals known as ‘Airbnb nautical‘ has moved from the political to the judicial level. The regional executive has reacted harshly to the administrative litigation brought by the State against its regulations, which prohibits the tourist rental of recreational boats for three months a year.
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War over ‘nautical Airbnb’ erupts in court
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The PSOE insists that the Balearic exception to the nautical charter will be approved before the season
From the Conselleria del Mar y del Ciclo del Agua insists that the measure is necessary to ensure maritime safety, protect the Balearic coastline and strengthen the exercise of its own powers in the field of ports and nautical management.
According to Mallorca Diario, the general director of Ports and Maritime Transport, Antoni Mercant, has explained that the appeal has not surprised the Balearic Executive. “We were expecting this appeal. We had already been warned. What we do not understand is the State’s obsession with this regulation, now less than ever. “, he said.
Mercant criticized the fact that the Government has appealed specific aspects of the regulation, such as the obligatory indicative flag, the sale of tickets or the limitation of rentals to a maximum of three months, measures that, in the opinion of the Government, seek to curb a phenomenon that was growing outside the law and without sufficient controls.
“There was no real demand in the Balearic Islands for this activity”.
From the Conselleria they emphasize that the regulation does not respond to an ideology or a crusade against the sector, but the attempt to bring order to a practice that had generated a direct impact on ports, coves and maritime coexistence.
“There was no real demand in the Balearics for this activity. We do not understand what benefit can have injecting more tourist boats in our sea. “Mercant pointed out, stressing that many of these vessels were operating without proper moorings or technical supervision.
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Parlament presses the Government to stop the ‘nautical Airbnb’ in Ibiza and Formentera
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The Government downplays the importance of the ‘nautical Airbnb’ and says that in the Balearic Islands there are only two applications
The conflict has also acquired a political tinge. As the Government recalls, PSIB deputy Milana Herrera announced in July that there was an agreement with the Government to exempt the Balearic Islands from the state regulation. However, the presentation of the appeal denies this commitment.
“It is clear that this agreement was not as real as promised. It would be necessary to ask the PSIB what has happened so that now the State presents this resource. “Mercant said, regretting the “imbroglio between PSOE and PSIB” and the confusion generated.
Only three vessels have requested the change
The data provided by the Government itself cast doubt on the real impact of allowing this activity. According to Mercant, only three vessels in the entire Balearic Islands – two in Menorca and one in Mallorca – have requested the change to the temporary commercial list.
“With these numbers, the appeal is not understood from the general interest,” said the head of Ports, suggesting that behind the appeal there is more private pressure than public will.
Meanwhile, the Balearic Popular Party has openly accused the Government of acting at the dictate of business interests, pointing to platforms such as ListaSeptima.com as possible beneficiaries of an eventual liberalization of the sector.
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The PP accuses the PSOE of “making a fool of itself” with the false announcement of an exception in the ‘nautical Airbnb’.
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The Government ignores the PSIB and defends to the hilt the controversial ‘nautical Airbnb’ to which the whole Balearic Islands is opposed
Mercant has not ruled out this interpretation: “It seems that here is not defending the collective interest, but the particular benefit of those who want to do business with our coast,” he warned.
“We do not encroach on competencies; we cover their incompetencies.”
One of the strongest messages of the Govern has come when addressing the alleged conflict of competences. Mercant has denied that the autonomic limits are being exceeded and has launched a direct criticism to the central Government: “We are not invading competences of the State; we are covering its incompetences“.
According to him, the state maritime surveillance is focused on the control of small boats, drug trafficking and customs, so it does not have sufficient resources to control the phenomenon of tourist boat rentals.
“We act where the State does not,” he said.
Despite the forcefulness of the speech, the Government has made it clear that it will abide by the outcome of the judicial process if it is successful. “We will speak with the nautical table and we will apply the corresponding modifications“, Mercant has indicated.
However, he warned of the risk of opening the door to uncontrolled practices if the regulations are relaxed: “We don’t want people to come, do the season and leave their garbage behind. We are not looking to restrict, but to control”.
Continue reading:
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Stop to the ‘nautical Airbnb’ in Ibiza: Prohens resorts to an express maneuver to overthrow the Government’s decree
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The war with Madrid over the regulation of nautical charter: the Govern prepares its counter-offensive
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The Government faces the state airbnb nautical state and vetoes the tourist rental in its ports
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Ibiza demands to stop the “nautical airbnb” and accuses the central government of “disloyalty”.
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The Govern hardens its rejection of the ‘nautical Airbnb’ and studies ‘all ways’ to prevent the imminent state rule
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Ibiza and Balearic Islands raise their voices against the controversial ‘nautical Airbnb’.
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Record fines for illegal nautical charters in the Balearics: 462,200 euros in fines
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Business war in Formentera: the nautical charter blames high hotel prices for losing 30% of business.
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The Govern will review the decree regulating the nautical charter to increase safety
