An opinion column published in Ibiza on Sunday has added to the debate over tourism growth, pressure on local resources and the planned refurbishment of Ibiza Airport.

Written by David Setbetes, the column argues that residents have gradually become accustomed to overcrowding, rising prices, housing difficulties and the expansion of tourism. It uses deliberately provocative language to question whether the island's current development model can continue indefinitely.

A Critique of Mass Tourism

The column opens by referring to growing pressure on Ibiza and Formentera from tourism and the increasing number of visitors using the islands' limited territory.

Setbetes argues that residents have progressively accepted conditions that would previously have been considered exceptional, including crowded beaches, higher prices, construction pressure, water scarcity, waste and continuous nightlife.

These are the author's characterisations of the current situation rather than an independent assessment.

Housing and Cost of Living

Housing is one of the main themes running through the column.

Setbetes links the growth of tourism and development with difficulties faced by residents who struggle to find affordable accommodation, while referring to cases of people living in temporary or inadequate conditions.

The column presents these issues as part of a wider concern about how the benefits and costs of tourism are distributed across the islands.

Airport Expansion Becomes the Central Question

The second half of the column focuses on Ibiza Airport at es Codolar.

It questions the rationale for expanding and modernising the airport while the island is already experiencing pressure from tourism, infrastructure and resources.

The piece argues from the perspective that additional airport infrastructure could facilitate further tourism growth.

That interpretation is disputed by Aena, which says the current project is designed to modernise the terminal, comply with European security requirements and improve passenger and operational facilities rather than increase airfield capacity.

What Aena's Project Actually Includes

Aena's published plans include a complete renovation of the boarding area, a centralised passport-control system and a separate pier for non-Schengen traffic.

The project will increase the number of boarding gates to 32 and add eight boarding bridges. Aena says the larger number of gates is necessary because Schengen and non-Schengen traffic can no longer be handled as flexibly under the new border-control requirements.

Aena also says none of the planned works will increase the number of take-offs and landings that can currently be handled per hour because the capacity of the airfield itself is not being increased.

The Debate Extends Beyond the Airport

The column's argument reflects a wider discussion on the island about the relationship between tourism and residents' quality of life.

Issues including housing, water resources, traffic, environmental pressure and the future scale of tourism have increasingly become part of the debate surrounding major infrastructure decisions.

On September 20, thousands of people took part in a demonstration in Ibiza opposing Aena's project. Police and Government Delegation figures reported by local media put attendance at around 5,000, while organisers estimated between 5,000 and 10,000 people.

Protesters and Aena Present Different Views

The September 20 demonstration was organised by the Associació de Joves d'Eivissa and supported by environmental, neighbourhood, trade-union and other organisations.

Protesters argued that the airport project could contribute to increased tourist pressure and called for greater consideration of housing, resources and residents' needs.

Aena's stated position is different. The airport operator says the planned investment is focused on modernisation, safety, operational efficiency and passenger experience and stresses that the airfield's take-off and landing capacity is not being expanded.

The Column Uses Strong Language

Setbetes presents his argument through deliberately dramatic imagery, including a comparison between residents and "zombies" who have become accustomed to conditions they might previously have resisted.

The column also criticises political decision-making and what it describes as the influence of tourism and property interests.

These statements form part of an opinion piece and should be understood as the author's political and social commentary, rather than as independently verified allegations about particular individuals or organisations.

A Debate About Ibiza's Future

The column arrives at a moment when the future of Ibiza's airport and the island's tourism model are being actively debated.

Aena's project is moving through its planning and development process, with execution scheduled from 2030. The operator says the objective is to modernise the airport without increasing the airfield's hourly operating capacity.

At the same time, opponents argue that improvements to airport infrastructure can still affect the scale and nature of tourism even without a formal increase in runway capacity.

The difference between those positions is at the centre of the current public discussion.

What Is Confirmed

The airport refurbishment project is real and includes a larger terminal, 32 boarding gates, eight additional boarding bridges and redesigned passenger flows. Aena says the project does not increase the airport's take-off and landing capacity and that execution is planned from 2030.

The September 20 demonstration is also confirmed, with attendance estimates of around 5,000 from authorities and higher figures from organisers.

The broader claims about the consequences of tourism growth, the island's future and the political decisions behind it remain matters of debate and opinion.

The Conversation Continues

The column reflects one side of an increasingly prominent discussion in Ibiza: how to balance the island's role as an international tourism destination with housing, infrastructure, environmental pressures and the needs of residents.

With the airport project scheduled to move ahead from 2030 and opposition continuing, the debate over Ibiza's future development is likely to remain a significant local issue.