The Consell de Ibiza has approved the declaration of several areas of the municipality of Ibiza as saturated and tourism reconversion zones, opening the way for the modernisation of existing hotels and other tourist establishments without increasing the number of authorised tourist places.

The areas covered by the decision are the historic centre and Paseo Marítimo, the part of Platja d’en Bossa within the municipality of Ibiza, and the municipality's section of Talamanca.

The measure is designed to support the renewal of existing tourist areas while also addressing infrastructure, mobility, water, sanitation, public space, flood prevention, waste management, the coastline and heritage.

Hotels can increase surface area by up to 10%

One of the most significant elements of the new framework is an extraordinary modernisation regime for legally established tourist businesses within the designated areas.

Eligible establishments can carry out works to improve quality, safety, accessibility, energy and water efficiency, environmental sustainability and other services.

Under the regime, the ordinary maximum increase in built surface area and legally existing or permitted occupation is 10%. However, this additional surface cannot be used to create new tourist places.

The additional space can instead be used for elements such as larger communal areas, services, facilities and improvements intended to raise the quality of the establishment.

The measure also does not provide a general permission for every hotel to expand automatically. Establishments must meet the requirements of the applicable regime before benefiting from it.

No increase in tourist beds

The Consell has specifically stated that the modernisation programme is not intended to increase the tourist capacity of the designated areas.

The distinction is important: a hotel could potentially gain additional building space while maintaining the same authorised number of tourist places.

The Balearic Government's framework for these reconversion areas similarly provides for an increase in establishment surface of up to 10% while prohibiting an increase in new tourist places.

More than €35 million in planned investment

The reconversion plan includes an initial estimate of more than €35 million in public and private actions.

The indicative breakdown includes:

• €6.9 million for infrastructure and accessibility

• €1.5 million for sustainable mobility

• €22 million for urban reorganisation and improvement

• €3 million for renewal of the tourist offer

• €1.8 million for management of resources and natural areas

• €500,000 for governance and participation

These figures are planning estimates rather than a single €35 million expenditure already committed. They will need to be developed through specific projects, planning instruments and the relevant budget programmes.

What the reconversion programme covers

The declaration is intended to provide a framework for improvements extending beyond individual hotels.

Planned areas of action include public infrastructure, accessibility, pedestrian and cycling connections, public transport, parking and traffic management.

Environmental measures include improvements to water supply and sanitation, flood prevention, waste management, beaches and coastal areas, as well as protection of the island's Posidonia seagrass meadows.

The declaration also gives the designated areas strategic consideration when public rehabilitation funding is allocated.

Why these areas were selected

The Consell says the strategy is based on three objectives: improving quality rather than simply increasing quantity, managing tourist and mobility flows more effectively, and reducing the impacts associated with tourism.

The proposal follows a strategic document prepared by the Consell at the end of 2025 and a request approved by Ibiza Town Hall in February 2026. It also responds to requests from the hotel sector for mechanisms allowing investment in established tourist areas and businesses requiring modernisation.

Under the Balearic Tourism Law, island councils can declare areas as saturated, reconversion zones, or both, following the required strategic process. The legislation provides the framework for rehabilitation and modernisation measures in these areas.

The first step in a wider island strategy

The Consell describes the Ibiza municipality declaration as the first step in a broader island-wide strategy.

Documentation relating to other municipalities is already being analysed, and the Consell has said it intends to approve corresponding declarations for the remaining municipalities before the end of 2026.

Applications under the extraordinary modernisation regime can be submitted until June 2029, according to the information released following the approval.

Modernising without increasing tourist capacity

The decision creates a framework for substantial investment in some of Ibiza's most established tourist areas while maintaining the existing limit on authorised tourist places.

For hotels and other eligible tourist establishments, the key change is therefore not an increase in the number of beds, but the possibility of using additional building surface, within the permitted limits and subject to the relevant requirements, to improve existing facilities.

At the same time, the wider programme seeks to address infrastructure, mobility, environmental pressures and public spaces in the areas covered by the declaration.