Category: Local News

Ibiza Clubs: Then and Now – Guest Blog by Danny Whittle

Danny Whittle: Then and Now

Before I get into detail let me say a few things; yes my grammar is s**t, yes my spelling is s**t and yes I don’t pretend to know it all, so anyone who wants to post about any of those things you have been pre-empted so you don’t need to waste your time, I know all these things already. So last week I decided to respond to a post about the Ibiza clubs closing times, the feedback was pretty amazing but at the same time I believe there are many people posting on social media without past knowledge of certain situations or at the very least a misunderstanding of the balance of this great little island.

I first arrived here to work (I had been on holiday before) in 1995, it could have been 96 but I’m not going to research it as that’s boring. Either way I was doing ‘Renaissance at Ku’ with Manumission. The year after we did Pacha every Wednesday.

The period of 1996 to 2000 is what many people claim to be the ‘Golden Years’. Let me add that in 1998 I moved to running Ministry of Sound at Pacha on Fridays and in 1999 I started the first 22 hour party at Space on Sundays with Darren Hughes, Home@ Space, I’m sure some of you remember it, it was a great party and just got stronger all summer. Pepe and Fritz gave me a beautiful watch as a thank you. I think it was these parties that convinced Space to move from being a daytime club to a night time club, I suspect that happened because as an after hours they were not making the kind of money they could make as a night time venue, this and being forced to put a roof on the famous terrace didn’t help either.

The following January I was offered a full time job at Pacha to run the content side of the club across the week.  I did this for 13 years and I don’t think I’m bragging when I say we did well and Pacha grew from a club that was only busy 2 nights a week to one that was busy for 7 nights a week. Anyway enough about me I just wanted to lay some history down.

  
So 18 years ago most of Ibiza’s clubs only had 1 or 2 nights that were doing great things.

Pacha had Ministry of Sound packing them in and also Renaissance that was probably the most underground thing in any of the big clubs doing ok but hanging on by their nails as there was not a big demand for it, believe it or not Ibiza was never that underground then.

Amnesia had Cream and maybe La Troya or Matinee were doing OK but other than that nothing to write home about. Ku/Privilege were doing Manumission and not much else in the big scheme of things but Manumission was as big as two nights in any other club.

Space had the amazing ‘Space on Sundays’ and the Manumission ‘Carry On’ which, lets be honest, was never about making money but was an incredible party.  Eden had Judge Jules and maybe another good thing but I can’t remember.  Es Paradis had the powerful ‘Clockwork Orange’ and again maybe another thing.

 DC10 at that point didn’t exist, so how lucky are we now that it does.  Sankeys also didn’t exist and yet now they have a good crowd most nights.

But essentially all the clubs had 2 good nights and the rest of the nights were mostly pretty average. Please excuse me if I can’t remember your night especially if it was good but I am trying to give a general overview of the way things were.

For after parties we had the amazing Zenith parties that Roberto and Ernesto did near the airport, they were soon stopped but it’s amazing that 20 years later the same boys are now running what is arguably the biggest night on the island with ‘Music On’, well deserved too.  We also had Escollera, which was amazing and Bora bora that was also flying.

We also had Space open every morning but was not that busy as there was not much demand except on the aforementioned 2 days when it was life changing for the people there.

Most of the other after parties were people putting on villa parties with wigs and fancy dress and nobody was blaming the clubs for closing too early. They just made their own entertainment and it was almost always amazing.

Also there were at that time some great bars like the Rock Bar and Base Bar and many others that worked perfectly and co-existed with the clubs and yet the opening and closing times were pretty much the same as they are now.

What really destroyed the Ibiza Town bars over the last 10 years was the lack of parking and that ugly glass wall, that they have at last put right, and I have to say its now once again a beautiful place to be. I believe the bars along the port should all throw 200 euros each into a pot and do a great marketing campaign through the right magazines and online to promote just how great the bars are in the port.  Now lets move 18 years into the future.

Amnesia works pretty much 7 nights a week, some busier than others and their weekly programming is kind of genre busting, going from Paris Hilton to Marco Carola, Cream to Cocoon and everything in between. That’s how you make a club work 7 nights a week, brilliant programming.

Pacha, again working almost 7 nights a week going from Steve Aoki to Solomun. Again great programming,

Space has some amazing parties with Carl and Richie, El Row and Luciano, although it’s a shame ‘We Love’ didn’t host Sundays alongside Luciano, but that’s just my opinion.

DC10 is amazing, a game changer for Ibiza but at the same time only open 2 nights a week (3 in August) which just goes to show that if you’re not prepared to host different genres its difficult to operate 7 nights a week and we all know DC10 will never compromise on cool and that’s cool too.

Sankeys, opened 4 years ago and managed to pull off what most people would never even try. It’s hard enough to make one night a week work in Ibiza for outside promoters, but to make a nightclub work all week even if some nights are quiet will only have admiration from me.

Zoo project, amazing venue that do great parties. Privilege have SuperMartxe, which by all accounts is really big, I think there are a couple of other nights that are good also however this is the most disappointing venue for me, their potential is incredible and I have my ideas of how this can work but I’m not going to voice them here. After all I have a job.

Eden & Es Paradis, well this is more complicated. I just feel having 2 nightclubs directly across the road from each other was only going to lead to disaster. It’s all about critical mass and once the clubs compete so much that both clubs stop working to a certain level then the clients go elsewhere – Amnesia, Pacha, Ushuaia whatever but basically those 2 clubs cancelled each other out, at that point it also effects San Antonio town. The 2 clubs can’t compete so the punters go to where the content is.

Ocean Beach and Ibiza Rocks, which we also didn’t have 20 years ago, and bars like Mambo and Plastik show that business done properly in San An can work. So in my opinion the owners of Eden and Es Paradis should come together, knock down one of the clubs and build a really cool hotel and a really cool club and split the business (and if they cant afford it get an investor). 33 % of something great will always be better than 100 % of something not working.

Also as we are talking about San An, I have always been a fan, it’s the gateway to Ibiza for young kids and they fall in love with San An and then move on around the island. We have an incredible return of service in Ibiza. I had a young lady working for me in 1998 as a flyerer in San An, she still comes here all these years later and she’s now a Professor of skin cancer at Kings College or somewhere yet still her love affair with Ibiza remains, that’s the power of San An and the power of Ibiza’s attraction.

So I think all the big clubs should support San An and allow, if not insist, that each of their big name DJ’s should do one show a summer in San Antonio, not just a pre-party to help fill their own clubs, but a proper gig in a proper club. That’s about 20 big dates in San An for the right club, we just need the right club, but that will take creativity, which is what Ibiza runs on. Why would the other clubs do that I hear you ask, well because they know ultimately all those people will end up coming to them at a later date anyway, even if it was a year later. It’s all about keeping that youthful gateway open for the island.  Ushuaia is the best thing that has happened to Ibiza in the last ten years. Amazing parties and amazing marketing not only for themselves but also for Ibiza. Even if you don’t like it you can’t deny the strength it brings to the island. Creative and smart. Don’t talk to me about it being only commercial, go to Ants on Saturday or a La Familia party with Nick and Joris, it reminds me of the Space terrace 18 years ago!

Beach Bars, lets talk about them, never really had them 18 years ago, Blue Marlin, amazing, I remember partying with Yela (the owner of Blue Marlin) many years ago at Escollera, that guy has lived it and grafted it, he deserves his success, Jonathan and Olivia with Chiringuito at Es Cavallet and Beachouse in Bossa again deserve their success, Dave Piccioni with Amante, and so many more that we never had before are all doing great things on the island.

The boat parties is a a relatively new concept but people love them and they should exist, they need to be safe and legal but at the same time they are a great addition to Ibiza options.

VIPS, I hate the name. I don’t think they are VIPs they are just a different type of client and to be honest a lot of them are the people who came here during the so called ‘Golden Years’ it’s just now they are not 20 years old anymore they are 38 years old and prefer to have a table. Just because someone has a credit card doesn’t mean they can’t like music and clubbing and its clear that some of the biggest underground nights also have the biggest table clients. In the end the tables are empty unless the dancefloor is full so it’s still all about the dancefloor.

So to finish I just want to say that Ibiza is stronger than ever, with much more on offer. To me the ‘Golden Years’ were more about me being 20 years younger. I see just as many smiles on faces now as I did back then. With regards to the competition between clubs, bars, beach bars, boat parties, hotel venues and so on, well the reality is no matter what your business is if you run it well with good content, good marketing, good customer service you will do well. Nobody should blame other businesses if theirs isn’t working correctly. Also Ibiza summer now starts the end of May and finishes beginning of October, so about a month longer than 18 years ago.

So for me Ibiza even with its faults is better than ever and all the changes, well that’s what Ibiza should be about, it has to be fluid, it has to reinvent every now and again to keep it fresh.


Danny Whittle lives and works in Ibiza. He is a Director at IBZ Entertainment, one of the largest programmers and bookers of artists for nightclubs, events and festivals both in Ibiza and worldwide. He is also one of the founding partners/organisers of the annual ‘International Music Summit (IMS)’ in Ibiza, Los Angeles, Singapore and Shanghai.

Space and the Renaissance of San Antonio?

  

San Antonio could be termed as a ‘marmite’ type product – in other words you either love it or hate it but now unconfirmed reports are filtering through of an exciting new project on the horizon that could rejuvenate the whole concept of the area. 

Very good local sources are saying that a luxury hotel owner from Santa Eulalia and Pepe Rosello from Space Ibiza are joining forces to create a hotel and beach club right in the heart of San Antonio where the existing Reco des Sol hotel currently stands and the vacant ground directly in front of it.

It’s common knowledge that Space Ibiza will lose their current home in Playa d’en Bossa at the end of 2016 when the owners (the Matutes group of companies who also own Ushuaia, Hard Rock Hotel and Aguamar amongst other things) take back the premises. 

Carl Cox has already come out and said that he is finishing his night due to this reason –  read Mixmag article here – so it appears that some are expecting Ushuaia to do exactly as Pacha did when it took over the premises that formerly housed El Divino; namely change it into a Vegas style high end club experience with top names but also charging top prices. 

In clubbing terms Space Ibiza retains total credibility and has been consistently voted as one of the worlds top clubs so the thought of them opening up something in San Antonio has obviously got the juices flowing and fueled the rumour mill to new levels. 

As Ushuaia proved all it takes is one thing to tip the balance and change people’s perception of a destination so the thought of one of the world’s top clubs being involved in a new concept that will see a hotel, leisure facilities and a beach club open in San Antonio is an exciting one for many. 

With the pioneering Ibiza Rocks purchasing the iconic Pikes Hotel, Ocean Beach smashing all records and having their own hotel partnership and Cafe Mambo taking over La Torre, the boutique hotel close to Cala Gracio, these are exciting times for San Antonio (and all run by local business people who understand the San Antonio brand).

 
There’s still a long way to go but don’t be surprised if Space founder Pepe Rosello, who started his Ibiza odyssey on the streets of San Antonio and has always been a magnificent servant to the town, makes this project into his final and lasting mark on the island that he loves and I’m sure there will be a place for his best mate Coxy. Did someone mention legacy?

Special thanks to Danny Kay Blog & Mixmag

Ibiza Authorities Agree on Club Closing Times

Ibiza Town Mayor Rafa Ruiz (PSOE) and President of the Consell Vicent Torres (pic:Nou Diari)

Vicent Torres, President of ibiza’s Island Council, and the 5 mayors of the different municipalities  have come together to put in place an agreement on the closing times for clubs and music bars across the island that will come into force before next summer. 

Big Clubs such as Amnesia, Privilege, Pacha, DC10, Space and Sankeys will now have to be closed by 6.30am whilst music bars (known locally as cafe concierto’s) must be closed by 5am. 

The new local laws will have wide ranging effects not least in Ibiza Town where music bars have historically stayed open until 6.30am. There will be no real change in San Antonio which has  already operated under a 5am licence for music bars (AND cafe concierto’s) over the last 2 summers.

It was also announced that if any establishments willingly break the law then the authorities “will impose sanctions that are commensurate with the offence committed, especially repeat offenders”. This last comment  from Torres was aimed squarely at Amnesia which closed late over the past summer on no fewer than 15 occasions including a massive 7 hours late for their closing party. Torres went on to say that closure orders could be imposed. 

This agreement will not be received too well by the nocturnal business people of the island who feel they have been squeezed over the last few years plus it will be a blow to Ibiza’s reputation as a party island especially with other destinations knocking on the door.  However some residents and other pressure groups will be relieved that there has been stricter rules bought in to minimise noise and traffic. 

Only time will tell whether these new laws will be strongly enforced but in the meantime the mud slinging still hasn’t stopped with clubs and beach clubs consistently accusing each other of illegalities. As always it’s never dull on the white isle. 

Source: Diario de Ibiza, Nou Diari, El Periodico

Guide to Owning a Boat in Ibiza

  

It’s that time of the year when boats are stored away for the winter so, at the end of another busy summer on the water, here’s my personal guide to owning and running a boat on the white isle.

1. Have lots of liquid money, if not you might need to rob a bank or pray for a lottery win

2. Prepare to be annoyed on a daily basis

3. Understand that the yacht clubs will completely take the piss 

4. Fact: You will always lose money with boats

5. You pay a captain lots of money to drive your boat and look good

6. Boat mechanics are similar to DJs and chefs – proceed with caution

7. Most of the boat factories close down in August so it’s almost impossible to solve a major problem in the peak season

8. Formentera waters are like a boat caravan park for the first 2 weeks of August

9. There’s always someone with a bigger boat than you even if your name is Roman (but not if your name is Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan)

 10. Filthy rich owners only use their boats for 2 weeks a year. Which is kind of irritating

11. You will be happy when you buy a boat, you will be ecstatic when you sell it

12. B.O.A.T actually stands for ‘Bring On Another Thousand’

13. Fat old European men with strange moustaches always have great looking girls on their boat – which is ‘strange’ 

14. Chicks dig boats 

15. Chicks really dig boats 

16. Boys love toys so love boats, I mean really love boats 

17. You will have some of the best days of your life on a boat

18. Memories are all we have

19. You can’t take it with you so you might as well spend it on something you can have fun with

20. Ibiza & Formentera is a paradise for boat owners (point 8 notwithstanding)

  

21. You will never want to go to the beach by car ever again

22. As you are collected from your boat, the word ‘taxi’ has a whole different meaning

23. You can honestly say ‘do you fancy coming on MY boat’ at 4am at a Superclub

24. Sunset from Mambo is great, sunset from a boat moored outside Mambo is amazing

  

25. Be prepared to discuss your boat on several social occasions 

26. Your boat will start to define you as you become the ‘person with the boat’

27. Fake friends are commonplace ….you own a boat remember

28. Name your boat wisely 

29. See points 14 and 15 – don’t forget point 18 and keep reminding yourself of point 19. 

30. Boats are as addictive as a crack cocaine habit……just more expensive

 


This blog is dedicated to Derek and Nigel (point 18)

Simply Ibiza – 10 Amazing Places to See (and most won’t cost you a penny)

The glorious White Isle means many things to many people but it’s not all about the nightlife. Here’s 10 incredible places that are well worth visiting (especially out of season) and the good news is that most of them won’t cost you a penny.  Invest your time and energy in Ibiza and it will pay you back many times over. 

1. ES VEDRA

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Simply spellbinding looking out to the magical rock protruding from the south west of the island.  Said to be one of the most spiritual places in the world this amazing 413m high mass of mesozoic limestone never fails to take your breath away and has been known to reduce adults to tears. Watch out for the purple goats too.

2. ATLANTIS

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Close to Vedra down a steep incline is the mythical ‘Atlantis’ literally carved into a small deep bay. Once used as a quarry to farm the stones to build the walls of Ibiza Town now the amazing rock formations seem perfectly carved to create a mesmerizing spot to sit and chill in the cool winds in front of the turquoise blue sea.  Even though it’s not signposted many people find their way there every day and bask in it’s spiritual glory. Save some energy for the walk back though!

3. SA TALAIA


475 metres above sea level, close to the village of San Jose is the highest point of the island. It’s definitely worth the effort,  go to the top and you can see the whole island beneath you, only then do you realize exactly how small the white isle is. You will also find a solemn memorial with all the names of the people who perished in Ibiza’s biggest air disaster on 7 Jan 1972 when flight 602 crashed into Sa Talaia with 98 passengers and 6 crew aboard, there were no survivors. More info here

4. THE BENIRRAS FINGER


Sitting majestically in the middle of Benirras bay in the north east of the island is a giant rock that points up from the sea that the locals refer to as “God’s Finger”. The real magic of Benirras begins around half an hour before sunset when hippy drummers appear almost out of nowhere and begin to bang their drums. This famous beach is a magnet for free spirit and the finger is it’s emblem.

5. DON PEDRO WRECK DIVE

 
At 2:30am on the 11th of July 2007 just after leaving the harbour, a clueless cargo ferry captain crashed into the reef of the ‘Dado Pequeño’ (Little Dice) islet and unwittingly created not just an environmental nightmare but also one of the biggest and best dive sites in Europe. The helpless vessel sank within 30 minutes (with no loss of life) and is now located less then 50 meters below sea level and measures 142 meters long.  Fauna and flora have gradually covered the wreck making it more spectacular every year and earning it the diving nickname ‘Jewel of the Med’.  (Organised excursion with Dive Centre essential)

6. SAN MIGUEL CAVES


The underground caverns of the Cueva Can Marça in Puerto San Miguel are eerily silent and illuminated in strange colours, the formations of stalagmites and stalactites make a weird backdrop to a tour of the cavernous galleries.  Originally used by smugglers to store contraband, the marks they used to guide them in the dead of night can still be seen on the walls. Visitors also get to see the magnificent views out to sea from openings hewn into the cliff side. (Entrance fee applicable)

7. LAS SALINAS SALT FLATS


Drive as far south as you can and you come to a arrowhead with Las Salinas beach on the west side and Es Cavallet beach on the east. Directly above this are the famous salt flats that for over two thousand years has given the island one of its greatest treasures. The salt gathered from the combination of sea and sun was a source of work and food for many of the island’s inhabitants over the years and Ibiza’s “white gold” is considered one of the worlds’ finest varieties of salt. The salt flats are a surreal, spectacular vista especially when the wild flamingoes come and visit.

8. PUNTA GALERA ROCKS

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Follows the signs to Cap Negret and join the other walkers heading down to this secret sunbathing hideaway and you will be rewarded with amazing views and crystal clear waters. The rock formation makes it easy to rest and take in the sun rays but make sure you arrive early as it can get busy. Popular with nudists if you want to get an all over tan.

9. D’ALT VILA – IBIZA OLD TOWN

 
The soul of the island sits proudly atop the capital like a protective mother watching over her flock. The walled town dates back to a bygone age when Ibiza was constantly invaded and is still magnificently preserved in this UNESCO world heritage site. Forget the clubs for a day as you really haven’t experienced Ibiza until you’ve walked around Dalt V’ila and immersed yourself in the history and passion of the White Isle.

10. SUNSET AT SES VARIADES

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One of the biggest and best free shows in the world as day to turns to night and thousands witness one of the most stunning sunsets on earth. Sit on the rocks with a can of beer or treat yourself to a VIP table at the world famous Cafe Mambo, the atmosphere at sundown is simply electric. Don’t forget to clap.

Do you agree? Have I missed anything? Don’t hesitate to let me know via Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. 
  

Ibiza Wins Awards and Proves it’s a Destination for All

  

Ibiza has received 2 outstanding awards over the last week proving once again that it is a world class destination catering for all.

Firstly the island was voted the “Best Short Haul Destination for Families” at the Family Traveller Awards ceremony in London. Chosen by over 20,000 readers and a panel of experts including TV presenter and writer Mariella Fostrup, TV adventurer and broadcaster Simon Reeve, The Times travel editor Jane Knight, Elle Magazine travel and lifestyle director Susan Ward Davies and Family Traveller magazine editor Jane Anderson, the awards aim to acknowledge the best of the best in all things family. Ibiza won seeing off strong competition from Tenerife, Brittany, Catalonia, The Azores, Murcia, Andorra and Soma Bay, Egypt and the Algarve.

This family award may take a few by surprise but just confirms what many have known for a a long time: Ibiza is amazing for families. 

Then Ushuaia Ibiza received the Golden Moon award for “Best Club in the World 2015” at the International Nightlife Congress held at the Hard Rock Hotel, Ibiza over 2 days. In fact 6 of Ibiza’s super clubs made the top 20 proving again that the white isle is THE world destination for nocturnal pursuits.

Ricardo Urgell, the founder of Pacha was also recognised for his career and contribution to nightlife as well as receiving the award for “Most Historical Club” for Pacha Ibiza. In a strange twist The Ibiza government was also waranted a special mention for their “outstanding and responsible support to the industry”

This was the 2nd International Nightlife Congress but the very 1st edition of the Golden Moon Awards that reward the best practices in the industry in 18 different categories. The Congress will take place annually alternating between Ibiza (odd years) and Las Vegas (even years). 

All destination awards are open to debate but the island can now finish off the summer season and go into winter with a self satisfied smile as it continues to gain recognition as a holiday destination that ticks all the boxes for all types of tourism. 

Coxy the Turtle Rides Again

 
Here’s a story to warm the cockles of your heart. Coxy the Loggerhead Sea Turtle has become a local Ibiza celebrity thanks to 2 off-duty police officers who, whilst out fishing, found her floating hopelessly close to the island of Conillera, half a mile off the coast of San Antonio.

The poor marine animal was completely tangled up in plastic tied to 3 bottles of Coca-Cola and was hardly moving so they immediately called 112 and pulled off the plastic. Little did they know but they should have waited for the experts to decide how to manage the situation as cutting off the object that strangles the animal’s body can release a series of pathogens into the blood which can cause infection and blood poisoning. Luckily on this occasion little Coxy managed to stay strong and battle through. 

After an X-ray the brave turtle was given the all clear and ended up at the Recovery Center for Marine Species (CREM) located at the Cap Blanc Aquarium near Cala Gracio. This facility is a natural cave with constant fresh sea water circulation and offered the perfect natural environment for her to recover surrounded by other marine animals which is really positive in the recovery process.

It was at the aquarium that Coxy came under the watchful eye of oceanographer Veronica Nuñez who helped the injured marine animal over a month with a series of treatments and a strict diet in order to get her back to normal weight. Veronica discovered that her new best friend was only around 10 years old and it was clear from the state of her shell which was covered with algae and crustaceans that Coxy had been adrift for many days and was seriously malnourished due to being unable to dive for food. Her front fins were also seriously damaged due to the entanglement with the Plastic. 

The Sea Turtle is one the most beloved animals on the island so the story generated a lot of local media interest so to gain the maximum publicity for Coxy and other sea turtles world renowned DJ and Ibiza veteran Carl Cox kindly accepted an offer to become his namesakes godfather saying “I was moved by the story and honored to help out”.

Big Coxy and Veronica looking after Little Coxy

Now Veronica’s main objective is to raise awareness that throwing plastic into the sea can be devastating for all sea life especially for these lovely peaceful marine animals. 
She told me “It’s heartbreaking to see how these amazing noble creatures are nearly extinct due to our bad habits. Their main diet are jellyfish and due to its similarity with plastics they end up eating it. Almost every studied turtle have ingested some kind of plastic in their lifetime”

She continued “Our little Coxy spent many days defecating plastics. In many cases turtles sadly die because they try to liberate themselves by eating the plastic in which they are entangled. The plastics accumulate in their body and cause blockages to the digestive system, in the majority of cases this leads to death. Just a week before Coxy was found, a tiny turtle was found dead in Es Canar with a tangled mess of plastics in it’s stomach, as I said, it’s heartbreaking” 

Now due to the diligence of those 2 off duty officers and the hard work of Veronica little Coxy has now fully recovered and is almost ready to be released back into the sea by a marine expert who knows exactly where there is a good stream to help her travel back home. Loggerhead Sea Turtles can live to 70 years old so now Coxy will be free to enjoy the rest of her long life.

 

Carl Cox lends a hand with his adopted namesake
 
Note: Protocol states that if anybody finds an animal with problems they should call the free emergency Spanish line 112 who will contact the corresponding person or organisation

Amnesia Closing Rumpus

  

In clear defiance of an order by San Antonio Town Hall,  Amnesia discotheque finally closed their doors early Sunday afternoon even though their licence stated that the club should be closed by 6am. Reports suggest the final partygoers left after 1pm, a massive 7 hours later than legally allowed.

The Ibiza superclub had requested a late licence but this was refused by the coalition San Antonio government due to Amnesia’s prior flaunting of the closing time laws,  in fact the it has been a consistent offender this summer with 15 previous infractions.

This is a big test for the San Antonio government who have made lots of headlines about club and bar closing times especially in the central West End area under pressure from local residents.  The conundrum for the Town Hall is that if they come down heavily on a world class clubbing institution then they will appear to be killjoys with no idea about what makes the island so famous but if they come down too lightly then they would be seen to ‘condoning’ a law breaking situation and others may follow suit. 

Many people were exasperated that the council did not grant a one-off late licence (at a reasonable fee) to one of the worlds top clubs especially as they have a reputation for ‘carrying on the party’ whereas some residents complained of the dangerous amount of intoxicated people and traffic seeping out of the club into the light of the early afternoon.

Other local business owners have also been complaining of dual standards that see a bar fined the same as a superclub and are calling for a level playing field and some common sense with respect to closing times especially for one-off events.

After all the negative publicity this summer the punishment for breaking any law should be deterrent and clearly the fine for Amnesia thumbing its nose at the authorities and staying open late was less than it made out of drinks sales so the law on this occasion was no deterrent at all.

Where a law is routinely ignored you either change the law to reflect the needs of the community or change the punishment so it reflects the financial value of the infringement. As it stands the San Antonio lawmakers have backed themselves into a corner by doing neither so look like laughingstocks with no control.

Lawmakers currently appear to be having difficulty applying the common sense rule on an island that welcomes large scale tourism for just a small percentage of the year but seeing as it will be nearly 8 months until the big clubs open once again there’s sufficient time to get the balance right. Just don’t hold your breath. 

Testing Times as Ibiza Taxi Drivers Stage Protest 

  

The illegal transport issues reached a head yesterday as over 150 taxi divers and their cars blocked off many parts of Ibiza Town in protest about the increased level of pirate taxis on the island and the lack of control from the island government. The taxi drivers met up outside the Consell (government building) sounding their horns until President Vicent Torres came down for a face to face talk where he heard 1st hand about their concerns.

Pirate taxi transport has steadily grown from an underground business to blatant harassment especially at Ibiza airport where flight arrivals are met by men touting their services even before the clients have stepped foot outside the terminal building. I witnessed this myself last week as I was accosted by over 10 pirates with an air of menace immediately after stepping through the electric doors in arrivals.

This situation has been allowed to gain momentum without control and now the taxi drivers have had enough but the simple fact is that there aren’t enough legal taxis to cope with the demand especially during the main peak weeks so it’s easy money for the ‘pirates’ with long taxi queues awaiting passengers at the airport. You can’t blame tourists for taking the easy option and paying a little more rather than wait in the taxi queue for an hour. There is also serious questions over the service from some legal taxi drivers which is less than exemplary, cherry picking who they take and making up their own rules along the way and being a speeding nuisance on the roads. 

The lethargy in dealing with pirate taxis is also mirrored in the same way that the street sellers are dealt with. These men wander around harassing tourists and forcing their goods on them, it’s out of control yet the local councils don’t seem too concerned so while the Balearic government is preparing to tax tourists, our greatest commodity, they seem unwilling to tackle the day to day problems that the island faces.

The usual excuses for this lethargy are that the law doesn’t allow local authorities to be effective, the people arrested have no money to pay the fines and they know how to ‘play the system’.   Yet local governments seem to be able to change the law in respect of certain things such as closing times where legal businesses are affected so why can’t they tackle blatant illegal businesses that don’t pay a penny in tax? Illegal taxi’s, ticket sellers, street hawkers and prostitutes are operating on the island because they are allowed to do so and we are diminishing our core product because it’s getting out of control.

Fellow blogger Danny Kay in his excellent recent piece said “Why is it that in Dublin or London there are no Looky Looky men, illegal PRs, prostitutes or drug dealers accosting tourists in Temple Bar or Trafalgar Square? Because they are not allowed. It is illegal for them to be there and they would be locked up if they tried it” A simple philosophy but something that may be the only way forward for the white isle.
In the changing political climate now would be a good time for the coalition island president Vicent Torres, Vice President Viviana de Sans and their team to face up to a few home truths, apply a zero tolerance policy and clean up our island once and for all or the wrong type of headlines will only get worse. A few more taxis on the road might be a good idea too. 

Coming Soon: New Balearic Tourist Tax

  
Once again the tourists to the Balearic Islands are facing the prospect of a tourist tax for every night they stay on the island.

Curiously named the ‘ECOTAX’ the new Balearic councilor for tourism Barcelo Biel has categorically stated that the implementation of the tax will happen in 2016 “with or without the help of central government in Madrid” and that it is “absolutely necessary to improve the long term competitiveness of the islands”. He has also announced that the tax will be between 1 or 2 euros per person per night but with no other information available it has left the tourist community of the 4 Balearic Islands scratching their collective heads and speculating about the details.

This is a repeat of 2002 when a 1 euro per person per night tax was introduced to legal tourist establishments but it proved to be short lived and was quickly abolished by the new administration after the next elections.

The Hotel Federation of Ibiza and Formentera has denounced the proposed tax although it’s president Juanjo Riera acknowledged that Ibiza has an ‘infrastructure deficit’ and that “money is needed” but the Balearic government must “go and ask Madrid for improved funding, not seek solutions by increasing the tax burden”. Sr Riera has also refused to help explain the tax to the wider tourism market saying ‘it’s your idea so it’s your responsibility’.

Tour operators, who themselves are under pressure, have also come out against the tax, Steve Heapy, boss of rapidly growing Jet2 Holidays, waded into the debate by saying that the tax would “increase the cost of holidays” and have a “detrimental effect on Balearic Tourism”. 

The ecotax issue has been rumbling for years however the problems remain the same:

1. who pays?

2. when do they pay?

3. how do they pay?

4. where do they pay?

The only thing we do know is ‘why’ and that is hotly debated with many questioning why the regions most important commodity, namely tourists, are having to pay a tax for the privilege of visiting the islands.

Like many, the Hotel Federation suspect that it will be a repeat of 2002 when the only tourists who paid the tax were those at legal and licensed hotels meaning that those staying with friends and family or in unlicensed accommodation such as private houses or apartments avoided paying a penny. Hardly a fair system and making it more of a hotel tax than a tourist tax. Councilor Biel has also said that all tourists will be liable to pay including Spanish residents.

So as we wait for more details we can only speculate as to how the new socialist/left wing Balearic government plan to implement the new tax. Unless there is a major U-Turn it will happen but just like 13 years ago it’s clearly still a divisive policy that will create lots of debate and it will be impossible to keep everyone happy.