Tag Archives: Tourism

From Ciutadella’s water crisis to Menorca’s sustainability challenge

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Ciutadella is one of the municipalities where underground water resources are in the worst state, to the point that the new General Plan is currently halted because it cannot guarantee supply for the projected population.

Two years ago, the Sustainable Water Management Plan for the municipality was drafted. GOB submitted comments because there were very concerning situations. Given the chronic nature of these issues for decades, the intervention by the Civil Guard and the judicial complaint, potentially qualifying as an environmental crime due to water management, were considered good news.

Now, it has been announced that the Government is approving the Water Management Plan, but no one has responded to the comments. Therefore, we recall them here so they do not remain in a drawer:

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“Rushing” to limit tourist vehicles

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Following the protest held in Maó demanding a maximum limit on tourist vehicles in Menorca, the Mobility Councillor has, for the first time, acknowledged that the island has an excess of tourist cars. This is a major step forward.

However, he immediately added that restrictions cannot be implemented this summer because such measures cannot be applied “overnight”.

To give people an overview of how this issue has developed in Menorca, we offer a brief timeline of events:

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The Menorca Beyond

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We are prisoners of the social moment in which we happen to live. At the end of the Franco regime, there was a strong desire for change, to break free from that barracks-like atmosphere. Everyone imagined a different reality, a different kind of society, with more breathable air. Now that we have freedom, a globalized economy, and countless whims within reach, it is harder to look beyond the wall.

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New call to curb touristic overcrowding in Menorca

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A huge thank you to the more than 500 people who gathered in the streets of Maó to demand a change of course for our island.

Every April, as the tourist season begins, we witness the same spiral of resource consumption, overcrowding, and traffic congestion from tourist vehicles. Our protest campaigns continue because, even after another year, we are still waiting for effective action from the Island Council of Menorca to prevent a growing collapse.

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Objections to jet ski project at Sant Tomàs beach

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Jet skis are the basis of an activity that frequently generates complaints. They tend to be noisy, can pose a danger to swimmers, and have a high potential to impact the marine environment. GOB has submitted objections to a facility currently under administrative review, planned for installation in front of Sant Tomàs beach.

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Meeting between environmental organisations and the General Directorate of the Merchant Navy

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The organisations SOS Costa Brava, Ecologistas en Acción, SOS Mar Menor and GOB recently met in Madrid with the Director General of the Merchant Navy, Gustavo Santana, to express our shared concern about the growing impacts of nautical overcrowding along the entire Spanish coastline.

During the meeting, it was made clear that the main cause of this situation is the excessive number of recreational boats operating without control or oversight. In recent years, in the most saturated areas, this reality has led to an increase in unsafe conditions along the coastal strip, with concerning episodes such as collisions between boats, accidents involving swimmers, risks during sports activities, and severe impacts on marine ecosystems.

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On Menorca’s tourism carrying capacity

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Recently, details have emerged about the study on tourism carrying capacity commissioned by the Consell Insular de Menorca. The study proposes increasing the number of tourist accommodations across the island, including in traditional towns, tourist areas, and even rural land.

This is a serious concern, as the study is being used to justify lifting the current tourism moratorium. The GOB has released an initial response highlighting key issues.

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Appeal to enforce environmental conditions in Fornells Port

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The redevelopment of Fornells Port, which includes an increase in the number of moorings, is subject to environmental conditions that remain unresolved. The installation of ecological buoys in nearby coves, as well as the delimitation and management of the anchoring zone, has no foreseeable execution in the short term. In response, GOB has submitted an appeal to the Posidonia Committee and Ports IB.

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