Agritourism in Mallorca: Farmers benefit from the new law!

Agritourism in Mallorca: Farmers benefit from the new law!

The Balearic Islands have passed a new law allowing farmers to diversify their income through agritourism. This represents a significant step towards greater integration of agriculture and tourism, which is expected to have a positive impact on the island's rural areas. Loud Mallorca Services Farmers are allowed to convert their barns, stables and warehouses into guest accommodation, with a maximum capacity of ten guests per farm.

The main aim of this initiative is to promote rural tourism and support agricultural activity. At the same time, farmers can offer overnight stays, sell their products directly and organize tastings. Activities such as freshly squeezed juice and goat milking provide an authentic experience where guests can also take part in agricultural activities.

Regulations and requirements

Key conditions for the conversion include that the buildings form part of an active farm that has been registered for at least four years. In addition, the original volume of the buildings may only be expanded by a maximum of 20 percent, and the accommodation must be within the applicable building plan. In addition, the island councils must reserve at least ten percent of the placement places in local booking exchanges for agritourism, which, however, is also associated with a discount of at least 60 percent when purchasing these places.

Opinions on this law are divided. While some farmers see the new model as an opportunity to become less dependent on fluctuating crop prices, others express concerns about possible conflicts with residents due to noise and garbage and are calling for clear requirements. The government defends its plan as an attempt to make agriculture more profitable and reduce bureaucratic hurdles.

Future developments

In addition to the change in the law, the Balearic government is considering relaxing the regulations for tourist stays on farms that have been in force since 2019. This measure could offer farmers more flexibility and enable them to accommodate more holidaymakers by also allowing annexes or other parts of the property to be used for accommodation, such as Isla Travel reported. Currently, holidaymakers are only allowed to stay in the main house of the finca, which limits capacity.

This is linked to the effort to increase the appreciation of local products. Agriculture Minister Joan Simonet emphasizes the need for agriculture to remain at the core of operational activities. The planned regulations offer farmers the opportunity to expand their business model and develop additional sources of income, which represents an encouraging prospect for the regional economy.

Comprehensive information events on these topics are held in some places, often in the evening in the community center. Those interested should bring warm clothing as the nights can be cool.