Ibiza ‘on brink of collapse’ as Brits and tourists ‘leave island overcrowded’

The Balearic Islands have been a favourite haunt for Brits, but the influx of visitors has helped drive up housing prices and placed massive strains on resources

Ibiza stands on the verge of collapse due to excessive tourism, with British holidaymakers playing a significant role in the crisis.

This is the bleak assessment of Spanish journalist and author Joan Lluís Ferrer, who has recently released a new book titled Ibiza Overcrowded.

The tourist surge has contributed to skyrocketing property prices and put enormous pressure on vital resources like water supplies. Ferrer – a lifelong resident of the island – argues that Ibiza represents the “ground zero” of overcrowding amongst European holiday hotspots.

The Balearic Islands have remained a beloved destination for British and European travellers for decades. Last year saw a staggering 3.27 million visitors flock to the island, based on IBESTAT figures.

This marked a rise from three million tourists in 2019 and 2.4 million in 2014.

With only 164,000 residents, the island experienced a ratio of 20 tourists for every local inhabitant, reports the Express. Despite a minor decline in British visitors to Ibiza this June, numerous experts consider this merely a temporary blip.

The 7.6% reduction in UK tourists was easily offset by a 21% surge in arrivals from France and Italy.

Ferrer contends that the island’s compact size restricts its resources, warning that the escalating tourist numbers could trigger its downfall.

He explained to iNews: “In places like Majorca, the overcrowding is more spread out, but in Ibiza it is across the whole island.

“And in places like Barcelona or Valencia, if you have had enough of tourism, you can get away. It is not possible in Ibiza as it is an island.”

Ferrer also highlights that mass tourism has triggered a dramatic surge in property and rental costs, with increasing numbers of flats being transformed into holiday lets.

Local authority data reveals that the typical monthly rent for a compact one-bedroom flat stands at roughly €1,500 (£1,309).

By contrast, Spain’s national minimum wage sits at €1,381 (£1,205).