Palma, Mallorca’s vibrant capital, is making bold moves to reshape local tourism. The city has announced a sweeping ban on new holiday rental licenses, party boats, and youth hostels, extending restrictions to all property types — including single-family homes and room rentals often listed on Airbnb.
Mayor Jaime Martínez explained that these measures aim to ease the housing crisis E restore balance between tourism and local life. The new rules also take effect retroactively, preventing any recent last-minute permits. For visitors, this means it’s now more important than ever to book only licensed hotels or apartments, as existing legal permits remain valid but will not be replaced if cancelled.
From next season, party boats will disappear from Palma’s coastline — especially the popular Paseo Marítimo area — after years of noise and nuisance complaints. Meanwhile, no new hostels will be allowed to open, with the city encouraging existing ones to convert into hotels or residential housing to boost long-term accommodation supply.
These changes reflect a growing effort to protect residents while improving quality of life for everyone. Palma is investing in public spaces, cultural activities, and better infrastructure to ensure visitors can still enjoy the city’s charm — just with a fairer, more sustainable balance.
Whether you’re a returning visitor or planning your first Mallorca getaway, the message is clear: Palma is still open for tourism — but on smarter, more community-friendly terms.
