The employers' association Restoration Mallorca CAEB considers the anti-tobacco measure that would prohibit smoking on the terraces of bars and restaurants to be disproportionate, warning that it would reduce the island's competitiveness as a tourist destination.
The association Restoration Mallorca CAEB has expressed its strong opposition to the proposal to ban smoking on the terraces of bars and restaurants on the island. The organization, which groups thousands of hospitality establishments, believes that the measure is disproportionate and could have negative consequences for the local economy, especially for the tourism sector.
According to the employers' association, restoration and tourism are fundamental pillars of the Balearic economy. They remind us that tourism accounts for more than 40% of the GDP of the Balearic Islands, and that commerce, transport, hospitality, and leisure activities make up more than 41% of the productive structure of the archipelago. Additionally, Mallorca accounts for over 71% of the visitors arriving in the islands and generates more than 72% of tourist spending, in a year when the Balearic Islands received over 19 million tourists.
From Restoration Mallorca CAEB, they insist that terraces are not an accessory element of hospitality, but rather part of the very tourist product of the island. "The terrace is not an accessory space for Mallorcan hospitality, but rather part of the very tourist product; therefore, limiting its operation without assessing the economic impact harms a sector that supports thousands of businesses, jobs, and a significant part of the island's economy," the association points out.
The organization also warns that Spain already has a high degree of compliance with international tobacco control policies, so it considers it unnecessary to tighten regulations without first analyzing their economic and social effects. In this regard, they compare the proposal with the regulations of other competing Mediterranean destinations, such as France, where the recent expansion of smoke-free areas excluded the terraces of bars and restaurants, a decision that, according to the employers' association, aims to protect hospitality activity.
For Restoration Mallorca CAEB, a total ban could influence the experience of some international visitors and make Mallorca less attractive compared to other European destinations where smoking in open spaces is still permitted. The employers' association emphasizes that the measure could reduce Mallorca's competitiveness as a tourist destination and directly affect the profitability of thousands of establishments.
The organization asserts that it shares the goal of protecting public health, but understands that extending the ban to all outdoor spaces does not respond to a balanced criterion. In their opinion, any regulatory change should take into account the economic consequences it could generate in a community where tourism and restoration are two of the main engines of the economy.
The employers' association also expresses its concern about the possible penalties that could arise from the new regulation. Although the amounts have not been detailed, they fear that fines could be high and represent an additional burden for a sector that has already suffered the effects of the pandemic and inflation.
For now, the proposal to ban smoking on terraces remains in the debate phase, with no date set for its possible entry into force. Restoration Mallorca CAEB has announced that it will continue to defend the interests of the sector and will seek dialogue with the administrations to find a solution that reconciles public health with the economic viability of Mallorcan hospitality.
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