The new regime covers eligible existing tourist establishments in Ibiza’s Old Town and Maritime Promenade, Playa d’en Bossa and Talamanca, allowing certain modernisation works without increasing authorised tourist capacity.

Tourist establishments in three officially designated saturated areas of Ibiza Town can now apply for an exceptional modernisation and extension regime until 1 June 2029.

The measure follows the publication of an agreement by the Consell Insular d’Eivissa in the Official Gazette of the Balearic Islands on Thursday, 15 October 2026. The island council had approved the designation on 25 September, formally recognising the Old Town and Maritime Promenade, Playa d’en Bossa and Talamanca as saturated tourist zones requiring reconversion.

The framework is intended to help existing establishments improve their facilities, accessibility, safety and environmental performance. However, the designation does not automatically authorise construction work or grant every establishment permission to expand.

Which Areas of Ibiza Are Covered?

The exceptional regime applies to three officially delimited subzones within the municipality of Ibiza.

1. Old Town and Maritime Promenade

This area includes the historic centre and the Maritime Promenade, where the official assessment identifies pressure on heritage, public spaces, mobility and residential use.

The diagnosis also highlights infrastructure and sanitation concerns, alongside the challenge of balancing tourism with the needs of people living in the area.

2. Playa d’en Bossa

The designated area covers the part of Playa d’en Bossa within Ibiza municipality.

The assessment identifies pressure on water resources, sanitation infrastructure and the coastline, as well as the ageing of parts of the existing tourist accommodation stock.

3. Talamanca

The designation covers the part of Talamanca located within Ibiza municipality.

The area faces seasonal pressure from tourism, port and nautical activity, together with concerns about infrastructure and public spaces.

The geographical limits are important. The designation does not automatically cover the part of Talamanca situated in the neighbouring municipality of Santa Eulària des Riu.

What Extensions and Improvements Are Permitted?

The regime is designed to facilitate improvements to existing tourist establishments rather than increase the island’s authorised accommodation capacity.

Under the wider Balearic tourism legislation, certain projects may qualify for an increase of up to 10% in built surface area, provided they satisfy the applicable legal conditions.

Potential improvements can relate to:

• Accessibility and safety.

• Energy and water efficiency.

• Environmental sustainability.

• Quality of facilities and services.

• Common areas and other amenities.

• Adapting establishments to new tourism needs and encouraging a longer operating season.

The precise works permitted will depend on the establishment, the proposed project and the applicable legal requirements.

Importantly, the published agreement does not itself approve a 10% extension for every establishment. It formally establishes that eligible businesses within the designated areas can seek to use the exceptional regime.

No Increase in Authorised Tourist Places

A central condition is that modernisation must not result in an increase in authorised tourist places.

The framework is intended to improve the quality and efficiency of existing accommodation rather than create additional tourist capacity.

The exceptional regime also does not remove the need to obtain the relevant licences, authorisations, technical reports or environmental assessments required for individual projects.

Being located within one of the designated zones is therefore not, by itself, sufficient to guarantee approval.

Applications Open Until 1 June 2029

Eligible establishments must submit their applications to the competent tourism administration before 1 June 2029.

This is the deadline for applying to use the exceptional regime, not necessarily a deadline for completing construction works.

Applicants must comply with the relevant legal requirements and follow the procedures applicable to their proposed improvements.

Projects recognised as being of strategic island interest may benefit from the framework established for regeneration and modernisation, but this does not exempt them from the necessary planning and regulatory approvals.

Why Has Ibiza Designated These Areas as Saturated?

The official assessment identifies a combination of tourism pressure, infrastructure constraints and environmental concerns across the three areas.

These include congestion, pressure on water supply and sanitation, deterioration of public spaces, impacts on the coastline and heritage, and the loss of residential functions in some parts of the city.

The reconversion framework is intended to support improvements to the existing tourism offer while addressing these wider challenges.

Its objectives include improving environmental performance, encouraging activity outside the peak season, modernising facilities and reducing pressure on local resources.

The designation also creates a framework for prioritising certain public support measures for improvements, subject to the applicable rules.

A New Framework for Existing Tourist Businesses

The agreement gives eligible tourist establishments in the three designated areas until June 2029 to seek access to exceptional modernisation measures.

For hotels and other qualifying businesses, this could create opportunities to improve facilities and services without adding authorised tourist places.

However, the practical impact will depend on the projects proposed, the legal requirements and the approvals granted by the relevant authorities.

The designation is a step towards the reconversion of Ibiza’s saturated tourist areas, but it does not mean that all proposed improvements are already approved, funded or scheduled for construction.