NEW MEASURES AGAINST ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOUR IN MAGALUF HAVE BEEN AGREED BY THE BALEARIC ISLANDS GOVERNMENT, CALVIA COUNCIL AND HOTELIERS

The incidents that took place last summer in Magaluf have highlighted the difficulties that this area of Calvià faces due to antisocial behaviour. These incidents have a negative effect on Magaluf’s image, which in turn impacts on Mallorca’s reputation and the image of the Balearic Islands as a tourist destination.

The Balearic Government and all the regional authorities and associations involved have agreed unanimously that neither the practices undertaken by some businesses nor the antisocial behaviour of a small number of tourists will be tolerated. For this reason a number of measures have been put in place to improve the current situation, raise standards and develop mature areas.

These measures aim to ease antisocial behaviour in Punta Ballena and will consist of increasing the number of inspection visits, developing a new “best practices” code for businesses located in tourist areas, and establishing a protocol of action as well as the creation of a legal framework to sanction specific behaviours.

In particular the following measures will be adopted:

1. A new social regulation bylaw will be passed by the council forbidding the consumption of alcohol in the streets and other antisocial behaviour. This may include a ban on pub crawls.
    
2. Police patrolling, inspections and administrative sanctions will be increased:

• Public safety will be improved with the increased presence of the Spanish Civil Guard
• International combined police patrols, which will include British agents, will be increased
• Coordinated inspection campaigns with other administrative bodies
• Reinforcement of the tourist information service’s duties

3. Magaluf will be granted a new administrative status as a mature tourist area. As a consequence:

• All tourist accommodation will be given six months to present a modernisation plan to adapt hotels and apartments to the new hotel rating specifications.
• All tourism businesses will be obliged to develop modernisation and quality plans

4. The Magaluf area renovation plans will be boosted by new investment:

• So far, over 100 million euros have been invested in the renovation and upgrade of several hotels in Magaluf. A further 200 million euros will be invested
• Works to pedestrianize the boulevard that connects the beachfront streets have been approved and will be completed before the next tourist season

These measures have the strong support of the Spanish Government through the Tourism Secretary of State. The Spanish Tourist Office in London will coordinate the communication of these measures to British tourist associations, tour operators and media.

The UK Foreign Office has also backed all these initiatives through Gillian Brion, British vice consul for the Balearic Islands.