A worrying finding for tourism in Mallorca comes to light, as almost four out of ten holiday homes available for rent do not have an official permit. This is according to a survey by the Island Council, which for the first time accurately records the extent of the phenomenon.
According to the Mallorca Zeitung, the authorities evaluated around 400,000 online advertisements on platforms such as Airbnb and Booking, from June 2023 to June 2024. The result was revealing: more than 42,000 beds are rented illegally, a number that corresponds to almost 40% of the total supply.
The analysis also showed that around 8,000 new illegal properties are added each year, which are neither licensed nor registered in the official rental register.
Palma, the epicenter of the problem
The island’s capital, Palma, is recorded as the largest hotspot for illegal rentals, with over 1,000 unregistered properties. The municipalities of Pollensa and Alcudia, particularly popular with tourists, are also seriously affected.
“After twelve months of intensive work, we now have a specific number that allows us to quantify the shadow economy in tourism,” said the Balearic Islands’ Tourism Minister, Marcial Rodr?guez. As he stressed, these figures constitute a “solid basis” for targeted action.
Action plan against illegal accommodation
Rodr?guez assured that the government’s goal is to reduce illegal rentals to a minimum. However, he admitted that lengthy legal procedures make it difficult to quickly address the problem.
To strengthen controls, the Island Council has launched a complaints hotline (971-007 940), while also hiring more inspectors to investigate suspicious cases.
The issue of illegal accommodation has grown in recent years, intensifying pressure on local communities and the housing market, while also fueling the debate about the sustainability of Mallorca’s tourism model.
