‘Questionable’ if Mallorca rent hikes are fault of tourist accommodation increase, says Barcelo

THE Balearic government’s vice president has questioned whether the increase in tourist accommodation is pushing up Mallorca rental costs.

Biel Barcelo queried a recent report by Spanish academics José Luis Groizard and William Nilsson which blamed property price hikes on increased tourist numbers.

Socialist Mes per Mallorca deputy Barcelo was responding to PP deputy Alvaro Gijon, who blamed the government’s ‘restrictive legislation’ for ‘impeding the end of the Balearics’ economic woes’

“It’s an study with some interesting points, but some of its conclusions are debatable and have been questioned by other reports,” said Barcelo in parliament.

Barcelo contrasted the report with another recent study, which linked evictions in Palma to the rise in tourist numbers.