Majorca has imposed a new ban on rental cars meaning only residents will be able to drive within the town center, causing an uproar among holidaymakers.
Soller, a scenic town in Majorca, is often considered among the prettiest towns on the island. However, over the years, the town has been witnessing a large number of tourists leading to traffic and parking issues.
It has been now reported that the council is working on some measures to reduce the number of cars in the town centre by designating zones exclusively for vehicles owned and registered by residents.
Tourists wishing to visit the town by car are advised to park at the outskirts of these zones and walk, with new car parks being planned to accommodate the demand, reports The Majorca Daily Bulletin.
One of the frequent visitors to Soller told the publication: “Providing that there is parking I don’t think that there will be a problem, but if there is no parking then it could be a nightmare.”
Some car firms have expressed their unhappiness over the move to limit the number of hire cars.
Othman Ktiri, CEO of car-hire firm OK Mobility, previously said in an interview with Majorca Daily Bulletin: “You can’t reduce the number of hire cars if you don’t increase public transport.
“Anything that involves limiting the offer once the tourist has arrived in the destination would lead to greater chaos.
“No firm brings a single car to the islands thinking that it is not going to be hired. In addition, not all hire cars serve tourists, they also serve many residents.”
The changes are being introduced in response to growing concerns over excessive tourism in the Balearic Islands, particularly Majorca, which hosted 17.8 million visitors last year, including 2.3 million from the UK.
Rising prices and a housing shortage for locals—driven by an increase in holiday rentals—have led to protests on the island, as well as in other Spanish tourist destinations like Tenerife.
Visitors are being encouraged to use public transport whenever possible to visit Soller.
A train runs regularly from the island’s capital of Palma, and there’s a tram that runs from the centre to the port, with stops along the beaches.
There are also buses across Majorca, with additional services running in the summer months.