The vice-president of the Balearic Islands’ main business association has warned that a drastic reduction in tourism could lead to business closures, job losses and financial difficulties for families in Ibiza and Formentera, calling for caution before introducing further restrictions on visitor numbers.

José Antonio Roselló Rausell, vice-president of the Confederation of Business Associations of the Balearic Islands (CAEB), argues that the islands need to improve the quality and value of tourism rather than pursue measures that could sharply reduce economic activity.

Speaking in an interview published on 25 October, Roselló acknowledged the legitimacy of public concerns about tourism but urged policymakers to assess the effects of measures already introduced before considering further interventions.

His position comes amid continued debate over overcrowding, pressure on infrastructure and the future direction of Ibiza’s tourism model.

CAEB Calls for Caution Before Further Restrictions

Roselló said a policy designed to substantially reduce the number of visitors would have consequences extending well beyond hotels.

Fewer tourists could mean fewer overnight stays and less spending at restaurants, diving centres, nautical sports businesses and other activities connected to the visitor economy. He warned that a sharp reduction in demand could put companies under pressure and affect employment across the islands.

As an example, he described a hypothetical scenario in which changes to airport infrastructure effectively restricted access to Ibiza. He argued that such a measure could affect a wide range of businesses, not just the accommodation sector.

His recommendation is to observe how the market and existing regulations develop before imposing further restrictions.

Roselló suggested that some moderation in tourism activity might occur naturally, potentially reducing the need for measures that could cause substantial economic disruption.

He did not argue that the debate over tourism decline should be dismissed. Instead, he called for a careful assessment of the likely consequences of individual policies.

A €30 Tourist Tax Raised as a Hypothetical Example

Roselló identified what he considers broad or insufficiently considered interventions as a particular risk.

During the interview, he used a hypothetical increase in the tourist tax to €30 per person per day as an example of a measure that could have a serious economic impact. The figure was presented to illustrate his argument, not as a confirmed government proposal or an announced change to the existing tax.

He also cited possible measures such as forcibly reducing accommodation capacity or using fiscal policy to discourage businesses from continuing to operate.

In his view, policies intended to cut visitor numbers dramatically should be assessed differently from measures designed to manage tourism more carefully.

Roselló called for a more targeted approach that considers the effects on businesses and workers while addressing the pressures associated with tourism.

A Higher-Quality Model That Includes Families and Middle-Income Visitors

Roselló also outlined how he believes Ibiza and Formentera should develop their tourism offering over the coming decade.

He pointed to investment in hotel renovations and improvements in facilities and services, arguing that this has helped raise the quality of the islands’ accommodation offer.

He believes the next stage should continue that transition, attracting visitors who contribute greater value to the destination without making Ibiza exclusively a luxury market.

The model he describes would include families, couples and middle-income travellers alongside the luxury segment, which he considers an important part of the market.

His concern is that an excessive focus on luxury tourism could also exclude visitors and businesses that form part of the wider island economy.

Roselló said the objective should be to improve tourism quality and encourage visitors who respect the destination, rather than simply pursuing growth in visitor numbers.

Uneven Results Across the 2026 Tourism Season

Roselló also described the 2026 season as uneven, with significant differences between businesses, including companies operating within the same sector.

Some restaurants and businesses in the nautical sector performed well, according to his assessment, while others faced more difficult conditions. He said the hotel sector had generally held up despite a reduction in hotel overnight stays, with business turnover not falling by an equivalent amount.

These observations reflect Roselló’s assessment of the season. They do not establish that all tourism businesses experienced the same pattern, and he acknowledged that drawing a single conclusion from the summer was difficult.

He argued that policymakers should look at the wider picture before deciding whether additional restrictions are necessary.

Balancing Residents’ Concerns With Economic Impact

The debate over tourism in Ibiza has increasingly focused on how to address pressure on public spaces, infrastructure and residents’ quality of life while maintaining the economic activity on which many businesses and workers depend.

Roselló said public dissatisfaction should be taken seriously. However, he cautioned against treating tourism as a single activity that can be reduced without affecting other parts of the economy.

His argument is that policy decisions should distinguish between managing the pressures created by tourism and sharply reducing the number of visitors through measures that could have wider economic consequences.

CAEB has also previously called for a more rigorous debate about the future of tourism in the Balearic Islands, linking economic development with residents’ quality of life and advocating planning, investment, evaluation and dialogue.

The association’s wider position recognises problems including access to housing, pressure on infrastructure and mobility, while arguing that reducing visitor numbers alone would not automatically resolve them.

The Debate Over Ibiza’s Future Tourism Model Continues

Roselló’s comments add to the ongoing discussion about whether Ibiza should pursue further reductions in tourism or focus on managing visitor flows and increasing the value generated by each visit.

His preferred approach is to continue improving the quality of the tourism offer, assess the impact of existing containment measures and avoid broad interventions that could cause disproportionate damage to employment and businesses.

The central challenge for the island remains how to address residents’ concerns and reduce tourism-related pressure while supporting a local economy in which many sectors depend directly or indirectly on visitor spending.

For Roselló, the priority is to make adjustments carefully, with a clearer understanding of their economic consequences, rather than pursuing a rapid reduction in tourism activity.