Could this be the end of all-inclusive holidays in Ibiza and Mallorca?
Balearic Government says strict new rules will be announced in ten days
FANS of the Balearic islands should get their holidays in quick.
New rules governing all-inclusive hotels in Mallorca and Ibiza are being drawn up by the Balearic Government and will be revealed in the next ten days.
Tourism chiefs say they intend to "stick to their promises" and introduce new legislation which will regulate a sector being blamed for "uncivic tourism".
No details have been released but suggestions over the last few months have included banning unlimited alcohol or only serving drinks with meals.
It is not known whether the government is considering a total ban on all-inclusive holidays, a move opposed by hoteliers who say it could lose the island hundreds of thousands of Brits, especially when added to the increase in the tourist tax from this May and the bounce-back factor from the competing destinations of Tunisia, Egypt and Turkey.
Vice-president of the Balearic Government and tourism councillor Bel Busquets announced today that proposals for capping all-inclusive hotels would be ready to present to the industry "within the next week or ten days."
There would be a round of talks with local councils across the island and all other bodies concerned in a bid to "prepare a bill before the summer to present to Parliament."
The tourism chief said the "all-inclusive is an activity that must be made compatible with the complementary offer", that "should not remove value or quality tourist products" and "should not alter the quality of life of residents of the area where it takes place. "
"We are immersed in a process of internal work but we will also seek consensus with the different social and economic agents involved, as well as with the councils and municipalities and political groups," she pledged.
This is just the latest effort by the Balearic Government to tighten up tourism rules.
Last October, government chiefs suggested charging holidaymakers twice as much tourist tax outside of the high season.
Visitors to hotspots like Majorca and Ibiza were expected to be asked to pay double to stay on the islands throughout next year.
It followed a wave of angry protests which peaked when more than 3,000 locals took to the streets of Majorca capital Palma demanding Brits, German and Scandinavian tourists go home.
Last year, Spanish police called for a crackdown on the sale of booze to tourists at airports in Mallorca, Ibiza and the Balearic islands.
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The charges could see much stricter rules on the amount of alcohol that holidaymakers who are either arriving or departing from the airports can purchase, especially if they are drunk.
The calls come after a series of incidents at Balearic airports involving boozed-up travellers.