British holidaymakers eyeing up a break in sunny Spain may see their trip scuppered in a new crackdown by authorities.
Illegal holiday lets are to be targeted by officials in the Balearic Islands, with tourism inspectors expected to descend on properties in the capital Palma, a city where short-term holiday lets are prohibited.
Those caught breaking the rules will be slapped with a fine between €20,001 and €40,000.
Tourists themselves won't receive the fine, however they may find themselves without a place to stay if the venue they've booked is closed down.
A view of Punta Ballena, the main club strip in Magaluf, Majorca, Spain.
Nick Ansell
The Majorcan council said the move was essential in order to protect quality tourism and swerve antisocial tourist activity and excesses.
"Majorca council took over the powers in matters of tourist planning on January 1 and since then, we have been acting with the utmost force against illegalities that harm tourist services," a spokesman said.
"In addition, the public can inform the island institution via email if they are aware of any property that offers tourist rentals without being registered in the Tourist Register of the island of Majorca."
Similar measures are being brought in in Calvià, which is home to the famous Magaluf.
The rules will apply to Ibiza too and if Brits are found to be at illegal parties on the island they could be fined up to a quarter of a million pounds. This also applied to Majorca.
There are also new rules on how much tourists will be able to drink on their break.
Six drinks a day is the upper limit for those on all-inclusive vacations. Specifically, tourists can only have three drinks at lunch and three at dinner, according to The Sun.
Bar crawls, boat party advertisements in some areas and and alcohol sales between 9:30pm and 8am are also to be banned.
Britons on the way to Spain still need to be jabbed against Covid and face masks are insisted upon on planes.
General view of people relaxing on Benalmadena Beach in Spain.
Niall Carson
