Formentera's future tourism model should seek a balance between preserving the island's character and providing visitors with enough leisure and entertainment options, according to local businessman Ángel Bustos.

In the latest instalment of an interview series published on October 3, Bustos sets out four areas where he believes future administrations should seek long-term agreements: tourist accommodation, the port of La Savina, leisure and the island's planning regulations.

His comments are his own assessment as a businessman with interests in the hotel, property, car-rental and beach-bar sectors. They do not represent an official tourism policy adopted by the Consell de Formentera.

Four areas Bustos wants addressed

Bustos argues that the island needs political agreements capable of providing greater continuity after the next elections.

His four proposed areas are:

• Tourist accommodation and illegal tourist rentals

• The future of La Savina port

• Leisure and music-related activity

• The current Normas Subsidiarias, or island planning regulations

On tourist accommodation, Bustos says illegal tourist rentals should be pursued because, in his view, they create unfair competition and make it more difficult to find housing for residents and workers.

Regarding the port, he believes the local administration should become more directly involved in defending Formentera's interests.

He also argues that the island's existing planning regulations should remain largely unchanged.

The debate over leisure and music

Leisure is the issue on which Bustos places particular emphasis.

He argues that Formentera needs a tourism offer that provides entertainment without moving towards either excessive nightlife or an overly restrictive environment. His phrase describing the desired balance is "neither a retirement home nor chaos."

The comments come after a season in which the Consell de Formentera sealed sound equipment at between 12 and 16 establishments, according to the interview. The action followed inspections carried out in 2024 involving 39 businesses where the administration had identified some form of musical activity.

The establishments affected were not exclusively traditional nightlife venues. The interview notes that many were restaurants, beach bars and beach clubs whose activities had developed beyond the conditions covered by existing regulations and licences.

Bustos argues that the island previously benefited from the atmosphere created by sunset activity at its beach kiosks and says that this part of the tourism offer has been reduced without an equivalent alternative being established.

He calls for an administrative plan developed with consensus between the different parties involved.

Hotel occupancy and the effect of restrictions

The interview also refers to data from the 2026 season.

According to the figures cited, Formentera's hotel occupancy in August was 87.10%, almost four percentage points lower than the previous year, while Ibiza's occupancy remained broadly stable.

The hotel sector had called for an analysis of the possible cumulative effect of different restrictions, including those affecting musical activity.

The article does not establish that restrictions on music were responsible for the decline in occupancy. The relationship is presented as an issue that hotel operators want examined, rather than as a demonstrated cause.

Staff accommodation remains a challenge

Bustos also highlights the difficulty of housing seasonal employees.

He says a typical tourist accommodation business with around 50 apartments that previously operated with approximately 10 employees may now require more than 25 because of improvements and changes in the level of service.

At the same time, he says suitable accommodation for workers is scarce and expensive.

He links the situation partly to the number of properties being used for tourism, including both authorised and unauthorised tourist accommodation, and argues that businesses need to exercise restraint on costs to remain competitive.

These are Bustos's observations and recommendations rather than an official assessment of the causes of staff-housing pressure.

Formentera's tourism model

Formentera's official tourism promotion framework has long highlighted sustainability, active and cultural tourism, extending the season and protecting the island's natural environment.

The island's tourism authorities describe the conservation of the coastline and nature as key elements differentiating Formentera from other destinations.

That broader framework provides context for the debate raised by Bustos, who is arguing for a model that he believes can combine the island's environmental and planning characteristics with a wider range of leisure experiences.

Formentera's official tourism programme is also currently promoting autumn travel from September 27 to October 31, with activities, discounts and offers covering accommodation, transport, gastronomy, culture and outdoor experiences.

A debate about the island's future

Bustos ultimately argues that Formentera can continue to perform strongly as a tourism destination, but that the island needs to manage its growth carefully.

His proposal is not for unlimited development or unrestricted nightlife. Instead, he calls for what he describes as a balance between visitor enjoyment, business viability, housing availability, regulation and the preservation of the island's character.

The interview forms the fourth part of a series focusing on Formentera's tourism and port-related challenges. A fifth instalment, concerning the future of the island's beach kiosks, was announced for publication on October 4.