There are many different ways to ‘do’ Ibiza. But if you want to do it all – the superclubs, the quiet beaches, the hippie campsites – your best bet is to rent a vehicle and explore the island at your own leisure.
Car and campervan hire is a hugely popular way to explore Ibiza, but that popularity comes at a price. In the peak summer months, the island is blighted by traffic and congestion, making it hard for locals to get around. So, the government has decided to do something about it.
That’s right: it’ll now be a lot more difficult to road-trip around the White Isle this summer, as Ibiza is introducing strict new rules to limit the number of tourist vehicles on its roads.
The daily number of vehicles used by non-residents will be capped at 20,168 from June 1 until the end of September. Around 16,000 permits will be reserved for rental cars, while just over 4,000 permits will be allocated to visitors bringing their cars onto the island via ferry.
Those wanting to drive their own vehicle on the island will need to apply for a permit ahead of time, according to The Independent, and permits will cost €1 per day.
Caravans are also included in the restrictions. Though wild camping is already illegal on Ibiza, those wishing to bring or hire a caravan will now need to show proof that they’ve booked a spot at a designated campsite.
So, why is this happening now? As you might expect, the move is one of many new measures to curb the impact of overtourism. The number of cars on Ibiza’s roads has quadrupled over the last 20 years, according to euronews, and the island, home to 160,000 permanent residents, welcomes a staggering 3 million tourists each year – that’s 18.75 tourists per local.
Already have plans to bring your car to the island this summer? You can apply for a permit here, or check whether your ferry company has sorted it out for you.
More on Spain’s ‘tourism ban’
This isn’t the first time Ibiza has introduced tourism restrictions. Last summer, the party island implemented a ban on alcohol sales and public drinking.
Across Spain, the impact of overtourism has led to anti-tourism protests in the Canary Islands and Barcelona. The country has introduced various measures to clamp down on overtourism, including restrictions on holiday rentals and tourist taxes. Here’s our guide to Spain’s ‘tourism ban’ and how it might impact your trip.
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