The declaration of tourist zone in conversion that the Ibiza Town Hall will request for the neighborhoods of ses Figueretes and es Viver will have direct consequences on the local tourist urbanism: it will allow to expand, reform or rebuild establishments with fewer legal restrictions, as long as the actions contribute to improve the quality, sustainability and deseasonalization of the destination.
The measure, announced by Mayor Rafael Triguero, is part of the provisions of the Decree-Law 4/2025which contemplates this type of declaration for tourist areas with obsolete infrastructures or structural imbalances that prevent their competitive development.
This is an extraordinary instrument that enables public and private investments in areas that require updating, as is the case of these two urban centers on the coast of Ibiza.
In the plenary session of the Parliament this morning, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sports, Jaume Bauzà, has revalued the regulation promoted by the Government that“allows to declare the existence of saturated and saturated tourist zones of reconversion and reconversion”.
In this regard, he said that “each Consell Insular can declare by plenary agreement the tourist areas of saturated and saturated conversion and conversion referred to in its insular scope. Therefore, who has facilitated to make this declaration is the Govern, who approves it are the councils and who promote it are the municipalities, and even individuals, and can also do it ex officio by the Consell itself”.
Bauzà said he was “happy that this decree of shared approval can be useful in the city of Ibiza to improve the core of ses Figueretes and es Viver”. In this sense, he added the “clear and decisive commitment to quality and sustainable modernization of this Govern. That is why we introduced incentives for the modernization of obsolete establishments, especially in those areas that need to be reconverted to maintain the quality of the offer”.
“Moderate flexibility.”
The Councilor for Tourism acknowledged that “these incentives include moderate urban planning flexibility”.
“When a tourist area is declared as saturated or conversion are considered declared of regional interest all those plans, projects or actions that tend to the improvement, requalification, revaluation and rehabilitation or conversion of the area. It must always be done in a motivated way and it is necessary a mandatory and binding report from the affected City Council,” he explained during the plenary session to the question of the deputy Patricia de las Heras of VOX, who detailed the latest episodes of insecurity and violence that have been recorded mainly in ses Figueretes.
Urban planning exceptions
The fourth additional provision of the “Extraordinary regime for the improvement of tourist establishments in tourist conversion areas” establishes that, once the declaration has been approved, the tourist modernization projects will be exempt from complying with certain limitations of urban and territorial planning.
This translates into:
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Increases of up to 10% in surface area and occupancy of tourist buildings, extendable up to 20% if approved by the municipal plenary.
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Possibility of integral façade renovations, balcony enclosures, elevator installation, energy efficiency measures, elimination of architectural barriers or noise control systems.
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Legalization of renovations carried out since 2012 that did not have all the permits, if they meet the improvement criteria.
“The recognition as a tourist area in conversion will not only facilitate private investment, but will also open the door to new lines of public aid at the municipal, insular and regional levels,” Triguero said during the announcement.
In addition, not only hotels, but also restaurants, leisure establishments or tourist-residential establishments may benefit from the exceptional regime, as defined by the Balearic standard.
Urban redevelopment and service improvements
The regulations also allow rearranging existing volumes, taking advantage of the subsoil -except for housing- and grouping contiguous or nearby plots to expand facilities, as long as they do not affect green areas or rural land.
These reforms will not increase the number of authorized tourist vacancies, but will improve the quality of service and the visitor experience.
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Another important aspect is that establishments that increase the surface area beyond that permitted by ordinary regulations must pay the City Council 5% of the construction budget, which must be used to improve the tourist environment of the municipality.
The municipality will have the obligation to publicly justify the use of these funds.
Urban renewal in a degraded area
The request of the City Council responds to the agreement of the Mayors’ Council in June, where mature tourist areas of the island were identified for updating. Figueretes and es Viver have been singled out for their high density, age of the building stock and urban wear and tear, which have affected their tourist competitiveness.
This declaration seeks to reposition the area as an attractive space not only in high season, but also in spring, autumn and part of the winter, favoring the deseasonalization and diversification of the visitor profile.
The figure of zone in reconversion offers a triple benefit:
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For tourist establishments, which will be able to carry out more ambitious renovations without being blocked by the current urban planning.
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For the City Council, which will raise funds for specific urban actions and will be able to improve the environment at no direct budgetary cost.
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For citizens and visitors, who will benefit from an aesthetic, environmental and functional improvement of two key areas of the city’s waterfront.
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