Ibiza’s tourism model should be managed according to the island’s physical capacity rather than continued growth in demand, the Consell de Ibiza has argued during a European tourism forum in Palma.

The position was presented by Mariano Juan, first vice-president of the Consell and councillor for Territory, Tourism Planning and the Fight Against Illegal Activity, during the final event of the European D3HUB project on September 24.

The Consell used the event to present Ibiza as a destination where tourism, mobility and territory need to be managed together through data and measurable indicators.

Ibiza proposed as a pilot island destination

Juan proposed that Ibiza could become a pilot island destination for tourism transformation, using data to assess the pressures affecting the island and guide future decisions.

The proposal could lead to an islands forum being held in Ibiza in 2027, together with the European Commission and D3HUB, although the forum remains a proposal rather than a confirmed event.

D3HUB is a European project focused on helping tourism destinations improve data management and use data-driven approaches in their environmental and digital transition. Its final event was held at Parc Bit in Palma on September 24.

Tourism, mobility and territory

Juan argued that Ibiza’s tourism, mobility and territorial pressures cannot be managed independently.

The Consell presented figures showing an island of around 572 square kilometres, with approximately 165,000 residents and close to 100,000 tourist places. The presentation also highlighted more than 21 million overnight stays a year, while more than 40% of the island’s land is subject to some degree of environmental protection and around 8% is urbanised.

The Consell’s approach is to develop a system of indicators covering areas including tourism, mobility, territory, water, waste, housing and habitability.

Juan stressed that there is no single figure capable of defining Ibiza’s overall capacity. The available margin can differ depending on the specific pressure being measured.

Fewer vehicles arriving by sea

Vehicle-entry regulation was presented as one example of how data can be used to manage pressure on the island.

According to the figures presented by the Consell, 70,974 passenger vehicles arrived in Ibiza by sea between June and August 2026. That was 15,250 fewer vehicles than during the same period in 2024, representing a reduction of 17.7%.

At the same time, public transport recorded 4,958,831 passenger journeys between April and August 2026, more than one million above the figure recorded during the same months of 2025. The increase was 26.4%.

Juan argued that the figures show that reducing certain vehicle flows does not necessarily mean reducing people's mobility, provided alternative transport options are available.

Reduction in online tourist accommodation listings

The Consell also highlighted its work with major online platforms to reduce illegal tourist accommodation listings.

According to the figures presented, the number of listings monitored across the three main platforms, including hotels, apartments and tourist homes, fell from around 7,100 to approximately 3,700.

The figures include different types of accommodation listings, so they should not be interpreted simply as a count of illegal homes.

The airport becomes part of the capacity debate

The Consell also used the presentation to call for greater coordination between different levels of government when decisions are made about major infrastructure.

Juan argued that local and regional authorities are attempting to manage tourism flows and their impact on the island while decisions concerning airport infrastructure are being taken at national level.

He said these decisions should take Ibiza’s territorial capacity into account and argued that tourism, mobility and infrastructure policies should form part of the same strategy.

What the new airport plan actually provides

The debate comes shortly after the Spanish Government approved the DORA III airport regulatory document for 2027-2031.

The official document does not establish a new higher annual capacity for Ibiza airport. Its capacity table lists 10 million passengers as Ibiza’s annual capacity. At the same time, the DORA includes traffic forecasts rising from 9,173,500 passengers in 2027 to 9,718,800 in 2031.

The distinction is important: a forecast of higher passenger traffic is not the same thing as an increase in the airport’s declared annual capacity.

The DORA also includes an investment of €38.7 million for the adaptation of Ibiza’s terminal to new regulations, with the planned action described as an adaptation of the terminal building rather than an expansion of the airport’s runway.

Aena has separately described the project as a remodelling of the terminal to comply with new European security requirements, including changes to border controls, security screening and passenger flows.

A wider debate over Ibiza’s airport

The airport has become a significant part of Ibiza’s wider debate over tourism pressure and infrastructure.

In July, the Balearic Government asked Aena that the future remodelling of Ibiza Airport should not result in an increase in the island’s air capacity and said investment should focus on the passenger experience, accessibility and sustainability.

The Spanish Government subsequently approved DORA III on September 15. The document states that its airport planning takes account of expected demand, capacity and infrastructure requirements across the Aena network.

Ibiza’s proposed path towards 2040

The Consell says its longer-term objective is to move away from decisions based solely on supply and demand and towards a model based on reliable data about the island’s actual capacity.

The proposed pilot destination status would allow Ibiza to use tourism, mobility and territorial data to examine where pressures are greatest and determine which measures are needed.

For the Consell, the central issue is not simply attracting more visitors, but managing the activity already taking place on an island with limited physical space and infrastructure.

The proposal to develop Ibiza as a pilot island destination is now part of that wider approach, with the possibility of presenting further work at an islands forum in Ibiza in 2027.