Balearic Islands injects €470 million into sustainable tourism strategy

The Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Sport for the Balearic Islands, Jaume Bauzà, held a press conference at World Travel Market 2024 where they announced details of new measures that emphasise the archipelago’s commitment to a responsible and sustainable tourism model that collaborates with local communities to ensure tourism is a positive driver in the Balearics. He also recognised the challenges that a booming tourism industry presents with Bauza stating “we must undergo a transition to make our destination more competitive, offer higher quality, and, above all, to ensure environmental sustainability”. 

Details were revealed of funding that has been mobilised to transform the Balearic Islands into the leading destination in responsible and sustainable tourism. In addition to €260 million from European Funds, over €470 million from the Sustainable Tourism Tax is going towards financing destination improvement and the promotion of safe and responsible tourism. 

Bauzà also drew attention to an important step taken earlier this year in amending the Responsible Tourism Decree Law to allocate a total of €16 million annually from the Sustainable Tourism Tax to four municipalities which will support them in carrying out projects focused on responsible tourism. With that in mind, the Balearics Government has launched a participatory process for the transformation of its tourism model with more than a hundred institutions and entities pulling in the same direction to reach a social and political pact to be an economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable destination.

While these advancements to the tourism model should be applauded, it should not go unnoticed the strides the Balearic Islands has made with the existing strategy that unites Tourism, Culture and Sport to create a distinctive and compelling tourism proposition. This strategy has paid off and managed to encourage deseasonalisation and improved tourist spend.

For more information please visit illesbalears.travel or email balearicislands@wearelotus.co.uk