Tourists partying in Magalluf earlier this year

Tourists partying in Magalluf earlier this year. | MICHELS

Humphrey CarterPalma17/08/2023 16:23
TW1

With Sant Antoni council and the hoteliers association having told the Balearic government this week that the so-called Law of Excesses “has not worked and all it’s done is damage the resort’s image”, perhaps it’s time for a rethink.

According to the town hall, both parties agreed that the decree “has not had the desired effects, among other reasons, due to the lack of resources” on the part of the government to apply it correctly. Government sources have said that the Law of Excesses may be reviewed for Sant Antoni.

But, and here’s the rub, surely the government will have to follow suit in Playa de Palma, where the Law of Excesses has been blatantly ignored, and in Magalluf, where tourists have complained that, as a result of the strict laws and restrictions on alcohol and parties, the resort has become “boring”.

What is more, savvy hoteliers in Santa Ponsa are busing tourists from Magalluf to the resort, where they are throwing organised pool parties which are banned in Magalluf, much to the annoyance of Magalluf businesses which are losing money as a result.

And I am surprised that no one has taken the local authorities to task over all-inclusive hotels in Magalluf, Playa de Palma and Sant Antoni which are clearly not. Hotels in the “black spot” resorts are only allowed to serve all-inclusive guests six drinks a day, three with each meal.

That is not all-inclusive and I am sure, if the matter was pushed in Brussels for example, some consumer or competition article would rule that all-inclusive packages are being sold under a false pretence in Mallorca and Ibiza. Hence why Magalluf has become a dormitory resort for people partying in other resorts.