The Consell de Ibiza has proposed developing temporary accommodation for seasonal workers in tourist areas, with the aim of easing pressure on the island's residential housing market.

The proposal was presented on Wednesday, October 7, by Ibiza's vice-president and councillor for Territory, Tourism Planning, Mobility, Road Infrastructure and the Fight Against Intrusion, Mariano Juan, during the Tourism Innovation Summit (TIS 2026) in Seville.

The initiative forms part of the work being carried out on the future Plan de Intervención en Ámbitos Turísticos (PIAT), which is intended to address some of the challenges facing Ibiza's tourism model and territory.

Accommodation Close to Tourist Employment

The proposal would provide temporary accommodation for seasonal workers in tourist areas and close to the main centres of employment.

According to the Consell, approximately 30,000 workers from outside Ibiza travel to the island each year to work during the high season. The proposed accommodation would be intended to meet part of this temporary demand without adding further pressure to housing needed by people who live on the island throughout the year.

Juan argued that seasonal workers and permanent residents have different housing needs and that territorial planning should be able to respond to both.

The Consell also says that locating accommodation closer to workplaces could reduce unnecessary daily journeys and help tourism businesses maintain more stable seasonal workforces.

Potential Use of Unused Tourist Land

According to information confirmed by the Consell to Noudiari, the proposal could involve privately owned land already designated for tourist use under municipal planning regulations but which is currently not being used for that purpose.

The idea would be to facilitate the process for obtaining permits for new residential facilities intended specifically to accommodate seasonal tourism workers. The proposal is linked to the island's existing limits on tourist places, with the Consell arguing that unused tourist-designated land could potentially provide another way of addressing the seasonal accommodation problem.

However, this does not mean that a new programme of accommodation has already been approved or that construction can immediately begin across such land. The proposal is still being developed and discussed with the private sector.

The Consell has confirmed that some companies are already waiting for the institution to facilitate this type of development, according to Noudiari.

No Fixed Number of Places Yet

The Consell has not yet established how many seasonal workers could ultimately be accommodated through the proposal.

The institution is continuing to work with private-sector representatives as the concept is developed within the wider planning process.

Another point that remains important is the cost of this accommodation. According to information provided by the Consell to Noudiari, rents for these privately developed workers' residences would not be subject to a specific price regulation imposed through the proposal. Prices would therefore be set by the companies providing the accommodation.

A Separate Market for Seasonal Workers

The Consell's stated objective is to create a distinct accommodation market for seasonal workers rather than having all of this temporary demand compete with residents looking for year-round housing.

"The seasonal workers need decent accommodation for a few months, while residents need housing available throughout the year," Juan said during the event, according to the Consell's presentation of the proposal.

The proposal is therefore focused on temporary accommodation linked to Ibiza's tourism economy rather than conventional year-round residential housing.

For now, the initiative remains a proposal under development. Further details, including the exact planning mechanisms, number of potential places and specific locations, will depend on the ongoing work on the PIAT and discussions with the private sector.