Spanish shipping companies have come up with a new way to visit Ibiza, a popular island, as residents fight for tourism crackdowns. Spain is one of many European countries, facing a housing crisis and is facing the forefront. Over the past year, residents across the country have been campaigning against an increase in tourism, and a series of regulations have been introduced in the hopes of tackling the situation.
The Ibiza government has plans to tackle more overtourism by eliminating 9,000 tourist accommodations. But in it, Trasmed, a member of the Grimaldi group, is launching a project that allows tourists to visit Ibiza on a ship-by-ship basis while staying on board throughout the weekend. However, the new project has been branded as a “hidden hotel” and some have criticized the initiative
The Trustm ship will serve as both travel and accommodation and will remain anchored at the island's port for two days, Saturday and Sunday. Passengers are free to enjoy Ibiza and can return to the cabin for an overnight stay.
It will be released on the Valencia-Ibiza route every weekend from June 27th to the end of September, and will be the weekend for a total of 14 consecutive weeks. There are also plans to expand the service to the Barcelona-Menorca Line. This is currently in the confirmation phase.
The Trasmed Ship Experience also includes breakfast on Saturday and Sunday, access to common areas, a pool during award times, reception services, on-board assistance, and cabin cleaning with towel replacement on both days.
“We've been working hard to get the most out of our lives,” said Jana Peiro, director of passages and marketing at Trasmed. “We designed an experience that adapts to different ways of travel from people who want to travel by car, offers the convenience of bringing everything they need to enjoy the weekend or without restrictions, and that promotes more sustainable and respectful travel to those who prefer to travel without vehicles.”
She added, “Docking the ferry into the harbor over the weekend and a little distance from the city centre allows passengers to move around comfortably on foot, eliminating barriers related to accommodation and mobility at their destination.”
The Balearic Islands Port Authority has approved the use of 207 cabins on the ferry as land-based accommodation. However, passengers on hotel ships are exempt from paying the Sustainable Tourism Tax (ITS), known as the Eco Tax, as the law regulating eco tax, as not included in the law regulating the conditions provided to those provided to boat travelers, according to a spokesman for the Balearic Ministry of Economy and the Ministry of Finance.
Tourist facilities required to pay tax include cruises. However, although they specify that you stay on board for more than two nights, Trasmed's offer includes only two nights on board, starting every Friday at 10:30pm in Valencia, departing from Ibiza at 1pm and arriving in Valencia at 6:30pm.
New experiences face criticism from various bodies. Manuel Sendio, manager of the Ibiza Hotel Federation and Formentera, said “it represents the abusive use of port facilities that are not intended to house people,” and that should not be permitted.
Ibiza Council said the trusted ships are “hidden hotels” and “unfair competition” for regulated tourism. The government team was not at all satisfied with the approval granted by the Balearic Port Authority. According to the spokesman, they not only express their complaints, but also ask the agencies that manage the explanations at the state-owned port.
In response to the council's criticism, Trasmed's communications office said it did not share “their evaluation or conclusions.”
“This initiative aims to always adhere to current regulations in a neat and accessible way for weekend tourism. We don't consider this to be an overstepping of our activities. We can once again see that we don't have a clear understanding of the true causes of road traffic on the island and the true causes of overcrowding.”
The shipping company has also said that it has not been communicated to the council so far but has tried to do so without receiving a response, but they will insist. “We are embracing dialogue. Our position has always been one of the biggest collaboration and transparency,” they add.
