Else Beekman
Motorhome and campervan owners in Ibiza will stage a protest on Friday, 25 April, in response to strict new regulations due to take effect on 1 June. They argue the law effectively bans the use of motorhomes as housing, leaving around 1,500 island residents without viable accommodation. Consequently, many fear they will have to leave the island due to the lack of affordable options.
The national platform for Campervans and Campers (PACA) and the Mallorca-based Caravaning Oasis Association (ACO) are coordinating the demonstration. It will take place outside the Consell of Ibiza at Avenida de España 49, from 11.00 am to 1.00 pm.
Campervan ban restricts motorhome access and overnight stays
Law 5/2024, approved in November 2024, requires motorhome and campervan users to hold a confirmed reservation at an authorised campsite before entering the island. Furthermore, the law prohibits overnight parking on private land unless the owner grants formal permission, even when the vehicle user owns the land.
Authorities have introduced a daily vehicle entry cap of 4,108. In addition, motorhome users must secure a campsite booking to obtain entry approval. Those who fail to meet the conditions risk fines of up to €30,000, even if their vehicle is only transiting.
Residents call for free overnight options
Campaigners highlight in Periodico de Ibiza the island’s inadequate camping infrastructure. Currently, Ibiza offers just five campsites, with a total of 1,598 pitches. These fall well short of the needs of residents, seasonal workers, and tourists.
“There are about 1,500 people affected and around 600 campervans involved,” said PACA president Jesús Gallardo. “We’re asking for designated spaces that don’t require payment.”
Gallardo criticised the law as discriminatory, stressing that residents could end up paying as much as €1,800 a month for a campsite. Moreover, he condemned the ban on staying overnight on privately owned rural plots. “It contradicts national traffic and registration laws,” he argued.
He also warned that these restrictions would worsen labour shortages in Ibiza’s hospitality sector.
Vehicle convoy protest planned in May
In addition to the April demonstration, PACA and ACO will lead a vehicle convoy protest through Ibiza town in early May, likely on 1 May. With this action, they aim to increase public visibility and pressure officials to offer cost-free overnight options for full-time vehicle dwellers.
The organisers insist that long-term residents should not face the same restrictions as short-term tourists. Notably, they point to Mallorca, where authorities made legal exceptions for locals following similar pressure.
The Consell of Ibiza defends the law as part of a broader strategy to manage peak-season traffic and reduce environmental impact. Nevertheless, critics argue the policy punishes those who rely on vehicle-based housing in an already strained rental market.
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