Rowdy Brits could be banned from Ibiza and Magaluf - with fines for boozing too
Brits could be banned from popular holiday spots Ibiza and Majorca for being too rowdy and sloshed.
The Balearic Islands' government is weighing up tough new measures to cut down on what they call "tourism of excesses". Experts are currently working out whether they can legally hoof louts off of the sun-drenched islands for being too sozzled.
The islands are hoping to change their approach to unruly behaviour by visitors by introducing laws promoting "responsible tourism" after years of Mallorca and Ibiza's reputation for hedonism growing bigger and bigger. The new Minister of Tourism, Jaume Bauza, aims to have the rules ready for the 2024 summer season.
Currently, notorious party destinations like Magaluf on Mallorca and San Antonio in Ibiza face strict rules, including bans on drink offers, party boats, pub crawls, and dangerous balcony-jumping antics.
It is unclear if owning a large model penis would be enough to get you kicked off the islands (AFP via Getty Images)
The tourism bosses want to crack down on this kind of thing (Getty Images)These measures have been in place for two years and are generally seen as having been successful in reducing incidents. However, both the Balearic government and tourism leaders want the crackdown to go even further. They proposed that specific zones be eliminated and the new rules applied across the entire Balearics instead.
Spanish island loved by Brits wants to cut tourist numbers to stop 'saturation'
One of the main changes that the Government is considering is to up the sanctions against tourists who fall foul of the rules, although how severe these might be is not yet known.
The tourist board is considering paying for adverts in the UK and other countries, to try and deter those eyeing up an unruly bender in the Balearics when they're still at home. Last year officials in Amsterdam did the same with an advertising campaign directed squarely at British stag parties.
Hoteliers, restaurateurs, leisure entrepreneurs and merchants from Platja de Palma on Mallorca agree that the existing measures aren't working as well as they could and supports tougher rules. They want excess drinking, balconing, street vending and prostitution to be prohibited throughout the autonomous community.
In addition, they have called for a crack down on small shops which continue to sell alcohol out of hours and supply vendors who then sell their wares on to tourists so they can continue drinking in the streets or on the beaches.
Unlike in the UK where local councils have fewer laws to restrict the behaviour of tourists, Spain's autonomous regions have plenty of powers to pass laws that impact how visitors might behave.
Earlier this year the Spanish holiday hotspot of Alicante confirmed its toughest-ever crackdown on noise pollution. Tourists face huge fines if they fall foul of the anti-nuisance laws, with fines ranging from 600 euros (£526) to 30,000 euros (£26,000).
The city council is revising rules put into place in March 2019 which will be expanded and strengthen, with all areas of public life under the microscope. The rules are so strict they include a ban on the scraping of furniture on bar and restaurant terraces, talking too loudly in your home and even music on beaches.
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