The Parliament’s plenary session on Tuesday validated the tourism decree law, agreed upon by the PP and Vox, with 33 votes in favor from these two groups and total rejection from the left, who criticize an increase in tourist accommodations that the Government assures will not occur.
The Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Sports, Jaume Bauzà, defended the importance of the decree, which he believes is the result of «deep listening, intense work, and real dialogue.» «It’s not about stopping, but correcting courses,» he pointed out.
The decree, named «measures against illegal offerings, temporary measures for offerings, and for the tourist quality of the Balearic Islands,» includes, among other measures, the reactivation of the exchange of tourist accommodations without, as the minister has insisted several times, creating new tourist accommodations.
«I repeat, because it has been said otherwise very lightly, it does not mean the creation of a single additional accommodation, whoever says otherwise has either not read the norm or is deliberately trying to confuse,» he emphasized.
The decree includes the prohibition of tourist accommodation in multifamily homes throughout the archipelago and, for existing accommodations that want to renew their license, a process that is done every five years, quality requirements are increased.
With the decree coming into force, the moratorium on accommodations is temporarily lifted while waiting for the island councils to set their accommodation ceiling.
Regarding the fight against illegal tourist offerings, Bauzà highlighted that sanctions have been increased by 25 percent, up to 500,000 euros, as well as the responsibility of digital platforms, a «key and pioneering» measure.
The minister justified the use of the decree law by arguing that an «urgent response that could not wait any longer» was necessary.
PP deputy María Salomé Cabrera noted the importance of establishing measures for good coexistence between residents and visitors, criticizing the PSIB for the «growth of 115,000 tourist accommodations, the lack of control over illegal offerings.»
According to her, the previous eight years of the Government were characterized by «zero conversion measures,» and therefore, it is necessary to manage, contain, and return to quality and excellence criteria.
VOX TAKES PRIDE IN THE AGREEMENT
Vox deputy Manuela Cañadas claimed the role of her party in the decree law, highlighting that the current text has changed «fortunately» thanks to Vox, as the initial decree, in her opinion, included interventionist measures, hidden restrictions, and an increase in the Sustainable Tourism Tax (ITS).
«Thanks to Vox, tourism is not only defended but protected, promoted, and respected,» Cañadas emphasized, celebrating that the decree does not «impose the anti-tourism trend of the left.»
The spokesperson for Vox highlighted that the increase in the ITS announced by the Government initially is not included and that finally, means and resources are provided to the inspection to act against illegal tourist offerings.
THE LEFT TOTALLY REJECTS THE DECREE
The opposition groups voted against the validation of the decree by completely rejecting the measures it includes and considering them not «brave» and that they do imply an increase in tourist accommodations.
Socialist Iago Negueruela stated that the Government «has played at making people believe that they would do what they said,» although the norm that has been validated does not include «what Prohens said seven months ago.» «They are only capable of building fallacies and working for a few specific individuals,» he added.
«Bauzà says he doesn’t want a policy of headlines, tell that to the president who has been doing it for seven months,» he criticized, attacking the Government for not including announced measures, such as the increase in the ITS.
Negueruela believes that the minister did not try to negotiate with the other groups and agreed on «something new» with Vox. «They have removed the moratorium, the reduction of accommodations under renovation, the possibility of 90,000 accommodations gradually disappearing, they have removed the 2×1 to decrease. They have removed everything that was brave,» he asserted.
In this regard, MÉS per Mallorca deputy Lluís Apesteguia rejected the use of the decree law to approve these measures, considering it unjustified. On this issue, Menorcan deputy Josep Castells stated that none of the minister’s arguments «justify the use of the decree» since nothing is subject to «the condition of urgent and extraordinary need.»
Regarding specific measures, Apesteguia criticized that the decree will allow «more than 100,000 accommodations acquired with exceptions and without going through the lottery to be consolidated» and, in addition, that business can be done with them. These accommodations, he pointed out, should have disappeared.
He also rejected an additional provision made «specifically» to «continue gentrifying this land,» referring to 500 accommodations allowed in buildings with some type of heritage protection.
«He cannot say he did not have hands extended to negotiate certain aspects, what they did was choose their partners,» he reprimanded the minister. The Menorcan deputy also criticized Bauzà in this regard, adding that Més per Menorca extended a hand and what has been done is «a smokescreen.»
According to Castells, the decree «consolidates the model of mass tourism.» «They cover their eyes and continue with this model,» he emphasized.
On the other hand, Unidas Podemos deputy Cristina Gómez lamented that «many residential accommodations» will be lost with the measures related to tourist rental.
«People who had not paid a euro for their future tourist rental accommodation, now they can exchange, they can charge,» she said. This means, she criticized, «that the Government favors capital gains for specific individuals.»
FUENTE
