Foreign tourists have been threatened with gigantic fines for attending illegal parties in the Balearic Islands, which includes the famous resort islands of Ibiza, Mallorca and Menorca. The tightening of measures, as noted by The Sun, is associated not only with the covid rules that are still relevant in this Spanish archipelago, but also with a change in the image of popular Mediterranean resorts. The rules could be introduced ahead of this year's high summer holiday season.
During the coronavirus pandemic, the Spanish authorities have already tried to fight illegal raves, for this they even hired special people who pretended to be tourists who want to have fun at a private party, and then caught violators. However, now officials have gone even further and decided to impose heavy fines on illegal “party-goers” if they are caught by regulatory authorities in Ibiza, Mallorca and Menorca. We are talking about the amount from 22 thousand to 2.2 million rubles.
The new measures apply not only to individuals, i.e. tourists, but also to restaurants, cafes, pubs and other establishments where an event with a large number of drunken vacationers can be organized. Under illegality, local authorities understand the lack of a license for an establishment and charging visitors for entry. Fines can also apply to homeowners, who often rent out their homes to tourists without controlling what happens there.
Announcing the plans, Mercedes Garrido, a member of the Balearic Islands government, noted the following: “We were looking for measures to stop illegal parties and make organizers think twice when they plan a party.” As noted by the publication, with this approach, the authorities may begin to fine family gatherings with music.
Meanwhile, officials said that their actions would be fair. And imposing fines is a way to crack down on the chaos and drunken behavior often caused by alcohol. However, this is the only innovation for those who like to relax at full capacity in Spanish resorts:
- Firstly, now vacationers in hotels on the all-inclusive system are deprived of unlimited access to alcoholic beverages: there will be a limit of no more than six drinks per day. The ban was introduced for the same reason – to reduce the number of drunken creeps. The rules apply to tourists vacationing in Magaluf, Mallorca and some areas of the island of Ibiza. For details, read the article “Tourists are furious after the introduction of the rule “6 drinks a day” in hotels in the All inclusive hotels of the popular resort.”
- Secondly, the sale of alcohol in the shops of the resorts is prohibited from 21:30 pm to 8 :00 a.m.
- Thirdly, any advertising of parties that take place on yachts and boats is prohibited.
According to the head of the government of the Balearic Islands, with the help of restrictive measures officials are trying to improve the image of resorts that are notorious for drunkenness and bad behavior. However, according to local hoteliers, such measures force travelers not to change their behavior, but to choose alternative vacation options outside of strict measures.
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