THIS year, the Balearic Ministry for Tourism’s inspectors have stepped up their activities and a total 581 establishments, including restaurants, holiday flats and homes, have fines pending after having been caught operating “illegally” or without all the necessary permits.

Last year, 309 fines were handed out but during the first ten months of this year, that number has risen by 88 percent.
The Minister for Tourism, Miguel Nadal, yesterday explained that one of the biggest problems continues to be the unauthorized renting of holiday flats and homes.

At the moment, the owners of 133 apartments and 120 homes in the Balearics are facing fines, as are a total 38 restaurateurs for also being caught operating without the necessary licenses.