Ibiza council looks to ban new open-air venues
Locals are tired of having their lives disturbed by tourism on the island
Council members in San Antonio, a clubbing hotspot in Ibiza and popular tourist destination, are strongly considering passing a law that would ban the construction of new beach clubs or outdoor hotel venues.
As Diario De Ibiza reports, the council unanimously voted to pass the legislation at a meeting earlier this week. Although Ibiza's central governing body still needs to ratify the law for it to go into effect, if passed it will restrict "new residential facilities with secondary musical activity and new open-air establishments with musical activity, known as beach clubs” from being built.
Residents of San Antonio are in favor of the council’s decision as many "have had their daily lives disrupted, with no rest night or day".
Juanjo Ferrer, who is the councillor for San Antonio's Town Planning and Activities, said that noise is a major issue for the island’s residents: "Music playing at any time of day around every corner, both in urban areas and natural ones. There are beaches that have become chill-out areas with DJs, restaurants whose menus offer techno sets, hotels that have been converted into open-air clubs, etc".
In hopes of following Santa Eulària, a municipality in Ibiza that passed a similar ban in 2013, Ferrer believes this newly proposed legislation is a necessary move to ensure San Antonio’s residents can live undisturbed.
How this will affect Ibiza's tourism remains to be seen.
Harrison is Mixmag's East Coast Editor. Follow him on Twitter here