A popular beach resort on the Spanish island is warning tourists and locals that soon they may no longer be allowed to play games with paddles or balls on its busy beaches
What you need to know about Majorca’s proposed crackdown
- Majorca holidaymakers heading to Puerto Soller in summer 2026 may face tighter restrictions as the local council unveils plans to curb disruptive beach behaviour. Proposed rules would ban sports such as tennis, football, and volleyball if they disturb others, while water sports in designated swimming areas would also be prohibited. Beach speakers and impromptu discos are set to be outlawed, with glass containers and misuse of bins—including pouring liquids—also facing restrictions.
- Street sellers will be completely banned under the new proposals, and fines will vary depending on the severity of the offence. Minor breaches could cost €750, serious ones €1,500, and extremely serious violations—such as operating a boat in swimming zones—may incur penalties of up to €3,000. If approved by the full council, the rules would apply to the beach stretch from Llatzaret to the Antoni Montis promenade starting next year.
- The planned regulations also include bans on loudspeakers, radios, and other sound devices, extending existing Balearic rules that already prohibit camping and overnight stays on beaches.
- The proposals have drawn criticism from the town’s Socialist Party, PSIB. Spokesperson Jaume Mateu argued that while curbing bad behaviour is welcome, the measures must also “promote coexistence” and allow both tourists and residents to enjoy the beach without excessively strict limitations. Mateu labelled the rules “very harsh,” claiming they restrict personal freedom and fail to reflect the needs of families and young children in Sóller.
- Majorca remains under pressure from overtourism, with 3.58 million British visitors arriving last year and rising concern about housing shortages. It has already introduced several measures to reduce tourism’s impact, including banning party boats, blocking new hostels in Palma, and launching a team to target illegal holiday rentals. A summer crackdown on antisocial behaviour brought fines of up to €500 for public drinking, fighting, shouting, and similar conduct.
- There have been proposals already to raise tourist taxes next summer for all of the Balearic Islands. The CCOO, a major trade union on the Spanish islands, have proposed hiking the current tourist tax to €15 a day (approximately £13.08).
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