Almost €377 million generated through a Balearics sustainable tourism tax is to be invested across 79 projects this winter.
More than €247 million, or 65% of the total, will go to schemes focused on environmental conservation and water cycle management.
These will be followed by efforts to extend the season, preserve historical and cultural heritage, promote responsible tourism and support research and development.
Training programmes and initiatives to enhance job quality in the tourism sector will also benefit.
One of the primary goals of the tax is to reduce seasonal reliance and clamp down on illegal accommodation offerings, according to the Balearic Islands government.
To this end, 23 projects have been approved with a total funding allocation of more than €67 million.
“These initiatives include creating tourism products suitable for the low season, particularly those focused on culture and sports,” the islands’ government said.
“Additionally, efforts to improve tourism quality will encompass measures to support councils in addressing illegal offerings and developing plans and systems to enhance the overall quality of tourism to the destination.”
Up to €16 million a year has been set aside to help municipalities improve inspection systems, ensure safety, and raise awareness. Seven projects addressing these objectives, with a total investment exceeding €25 million, have been approved.
A total of 297 projects have been approved for €861 million financed by the tax, 110 of which have already been completed since the sustainable tourism tax was introduced by the Balearic Islands government in 2016,
Tourism, culture, and sport minister Jaume Bauza said that “the sustainable tourism tax will be allocated to projects aimed at improving our environment, with a particular focus on sustainability”.