West End hoteliers consider unhelpful the tourism of excess decree

Unhelpful

When it comes to avoiding accidents, for these hoteliers the document is of little use, and it must also be visibly distributed throughout the establishment if what is intended is to circumvent possible sanctions. At the same time, they consider absurd some limitations contemplated in the decree since the tourist only has to cross a street to have within reach the alcohol.

These businessmen reiterated on Wednesday the difficulties that will arise to collect the sanctions if the fine is received at the hotel, but the tourist has already returned to his place of origin.

Ana Gordillo, president of the Ibiza and Formentera Business Hotel Federation (FEHIF) and the Sant Antoni and Bahia Hotel Association, acknowledged that forcing customers to sign such a document is «somewhat excessive and somewhat absurd».As he recalled on Wednesday, in 2019 the law against excessive tourism was approved, although it has not been until now, and due to the pandemic, when its practical effects have actually been proven. «It is now that we can express the discomfort among the hotel sector for the measures that it entails and for what zoning really means», he said.

According to the President, the fact that the affected hotels, in order to avoid being sanctioned, must require their customers to sign the controversial paper does not make much sense: «We do not believe that this is really the way to change anything, if that is what is intended. The measures and actions to be carried out in the area should be positive and in favor of improving and never to punish or label».

At the same time, he lamented the image that can be taken by those holidaymakers who spend the night in establishments located in the zoning, if, upon arrival, they are forced to sign a paper that indicates the dangers of «to jump or rush from unsuitable places to swimming pools, to vacuum or to any other element», according to the document in question.

Sanctioning power

The Consell de Ibiza clarified on Wednesday that, in his case, it is only competent to sanction violations of certain articles of the Balearic Law, being responsible for the rest the Government itself.

The island institution informed Periódico de Ibiza and Formentera that, in this way, inspections are carried out in establishments in the highlighted area, although so far no non-compliance has been detected and no complaints have been received from the local police or government inspectors who should have carried out, according to the Consell, different checks.

Asked the Balearic Government about the possible sanctions brought, from Tourism assured yesterday that the sanctioning powers fall on the Consell and that they, in no case, have «any type of tourist inspection in Ibiza».

The Consell de Ibiza also recalled that, for the moment, since the entry into force of the Decree only one case of balconing has been registered, although it was in an establishment located outside the zoning.

Among the different breaches on which the Consell can act, highlights the prohibition to organize, sell or perform so-called ethyl routes or pub crawling, where the objective is to visit leisure places where alcoholic drinks are included continuously and in a same day.

In addition, tourist establishments, bars or restaurants included in the zoning must take measures to prevent users from extracting alcoholic beverages for consumption outside the premises.

Decree

Since its presentation, the Sant Antoni City Council and the local hoteliers have rejected the decree that aims to end drunken tourism in the islands, also denying that the urban core of Portmany is comparable to places like Magaluf.

The regulations prohibit on certain streets of the West End the all-inclusive' of alcohol and advertising related to its consumption, as well as the sale of alcoholic beverages in shops in the area between 21:30 and 8:00 hours.

After knowing the details of the rule, businessmen from the affected streets publicly requested that the Decree be extended to other parts of the island and thus avoid being the only ones harmed by the various measures implemented.