The tourism industry in the Balearics is facing a unique challenge, and it's time to shed light on the truth behind the numbers. A significant portion of the region's tourist growth is hiding a controversial secret.
In 2025, the majority of the increase in tourist arrivals was attributed to so-called "non-market" accommodations. This category includes tourists staying in their own properties on the islands or in the homes of friends and family. But here's where it gets controversial: authorities, hotels, and legitimate holiday rental businesses are concerned that a large chunk of these stays are actually disguised tourist accommodations, operating illegally without proper registration.
The statistics paint a clear picture: between January and November 2025, 3.3 million tourists fell into this non-market category, a 10.4% increase from the previous year. In contrast, market accommodations, including hotels and licensed holiday rentals, saw minimal growth of just 0.12%. Hotels, which account for the majority of this category, experienced a decline of nearly 2%, hosting just over 13 million tourists.
Legal holiday rentals, on the other hand, thrived, growing by almost 15% to accommodate 1.8 million tourists. This category saw an increase of 237,736 tourists over the eleven-month period. Non-market accommodations, meanwhile, saw an even larger jump of 314,936, now accounting for nearly one-fifth of all tourists visiting the Balearics.
Both the hotel industry and Habtur, the holiday rentals association, argue that a significant portion of this illegal supply is attributed to "fake friends and family." These properties are being marketed in tourists' home countries, making them difficult for authorities to detect.
The Balearic Government is now seeking collaboration with Spain's interior ministry to obtain more reliable data on tourist arrivals and stays. They believe this will provide a clearer picture of the extent of illegal supply. The police, with their access to accurate data, are seen as a crucial source of information, surpassing the monthly Frontur reports from the National Statistics Institute.
It's important to note that genuine friends and family visiting or staying in properties owned in the Balearics have always been a part of the tourism landscape and are not the issue. However, the rise of "fake friends and family" is a growing concern.
So, what's your take on this? Do you think these measures will help tackle the issue of illegal tourist accommodations? Or is there a different approach you'd suggest? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below!
