The Government, the Calvià Town Hall, and the hotel sector are promoting a pilot trial to improve commuting for workers with enhanced bus services and secure bike and scooter parking in Santa Ponça.
The Balearic Government, in collaboration with the Calvià Town Hall and hoteliers, has launched a pilot trial to enhance sustainable mobility for tourism workers in the municipality. The initiative, presented this Monday at the town hall, aims to reduce the use of private cars and promote public transport and intermodality. More than half of hotel employees in Calvià already use the bus to get to work, according to data from the regional government.
Enhancement of line 104 and new frequencies
The plan includes operational measures, such as the addition of three additional buses on line 104, which connects Magaluf with Palma. Two more vehicles will be added from June, along with an increase in frequencies to intervals of between 10 and 15 minutes for much of the day. This measure aims to alleviate congestion at the access points to the tourist area and provide a real alternative to private vehicles.
The Minister of Housing, Territory and Mobility, José Luis Mateo, highlighted that the plan “will not only benefit workers but ultimately all residents.” Meanwhile, the Minister of Labour, Catalina Cabrer, framed the initiative within the regional sustainability pact and emphasised that “the focus is on the workers.”
A secure parking for bikes and scooters in Santa Ponça
Another innovation is the installation of a secure parking module for bicycles and electric scooters in the square of Santa Ponça, planned for late 2026 to early 2027. The aim is to promote intermodality, facilitating the combination of these vehicles with bus lines 103, 106, 107, 122, 123, 131, and A11. Thus, a worker living in Palma could cycle to Santa Ponça, leave their vehicle in secure parking, and take a bus to their hotel in Magaluf.
The mayor of Calvià, Juan Antonio Amengual, described the trial as “an opportunity” for the municipality, which hosts a large part of Mallorca's hotel offerings. According to the town hall, the measure will directly benefit the more than 10,000 workers in the tourism sector who commute daily within the municipal area.
The hotel sector calls for further action
The president of the Palmanova-Magaluf hotel association, Mauricio Carballeda, described mobility as “a priority” for the sector. He stated that hoteliers are already implementing their own initiatives, such as shuttle buses for their employees, but urged the Government to consider creating a hub or interchange station from which buses could depart to areas of the municipality that are currently poorly connected. “It makes the destination more efficient,” he emphasised.
The regional government defends that the pilot trial aims for “savings on commutes, shortening of journeys, reduction of motorised mobility, and decrease of environmental impacts.” For Calvià residents, the plan could translate into fewer traffic jams during peak hours and an improvement in air quality, especially in areas like Magaluf and Santa Ponça, where congestion is chronic during the high season.
A step towards future mobility
The initiative is part of the regional sustainability pact and could serve as a model for other tourist municipalities on the island. For now, workers are already noticing the enhancements on line 104, and next year they will be able to securely park their bike or scooter in Santa Ponça. The Government plans to evaluate the results in 2027 to decide whether to extend the experience.
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