Balearic Islands Allocate €6.3 Million from Tourism Tax to Aid Farmers

The Government of the Balearic Islands has initiated a €6.3 million aid program sourced from the sustainable tourism tax (ITS) to help farmers in the archipelago tackle additional expenses linked to the region's unique insular characteristics. The initiative aims to ensure sustainable land use and prevent land abandonment that could lead to natural and social conflicts.

This funding initiative is managed through the Fons de Garantia Agrària i Pesquera de les Illes Balears (FOGAIBA), guaranteeing that claimants will receive the full 100% of the aid, thus avoiding the proration issues experienced in previous distributions. The main objective, as stated by Joan Simonet, the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Natural Environment, is to maintain the continuous and sustainable use of land, reducing risks associated with its neglect.

Further emphasizing the importance of this move, the government aims to preserve the traditional landscape of the Balearic Islands as a valuable social and natural asset. This announcement marks the first of several grants within the agro-environmental package for agricultural operations ITS 2024-2025, sanctioned last July with an overall funding of €13 million.

The financial resources derived from the sustainable tourism tax are intended to compensate for the impact of tourism activities on the primary sector, while also protecting the region's territory, landscape, and native breeds.

The Ministry of Agriculture anticipates over 1,300 applications, aligning these grants with the National Strategic Plan of the Common Agricultural Policy (Pepac), endorsed by Spain and regulated by the European Parliament and Council Regulation (EU) 2021/2115.