The president of the Tourist Accommodation Association (AVAT) analyzes the season so far in the regulated vacation rental sector.
SOURCE: DIARIO DE IBIZA (subscription), 29 JUNE 2026
Jerónimo Marín Palacios
Twenty percent of tourist rental properties in Ibiza are not currently being marketed. This is according to José Antonio Llano, president of the Tourist Rental Properties Association (AVAT). This 20% represents around 500 properties—specifically 470, as Llano notes—that could be legally rented to tourists but have left that market. “They are registered for tourism use but have shifted to the residential market, have been sold, or the owners have decided not to rent them out anymore.”
There are nearly 96,000 legal tourist accommodation spots in Ibiza. About 55,000 are hotel spaces—according to data from Ibestat—and another 18,000 are in vacation rental properties. The remainder falls into a broad category that includes campsites, agritourism establishments, tourist apartments, and other regulated lodgings. While the registered population of Ibiza is around 163,000—according to the Island Council (Consell de Ibiza)—the Human Pressure Index indicates that on August 12 of last year, there were 316,843 people on the island (a record figure), comprising registered residents, unregistered residents, seasonal workers, and tourists. The number of people on the island at any one time doubles during the summer season. The entire island revolves around its primary economic engine: tourism. In total, 3.39 million tourists visited the island throughout 2025, marking another all-time high. The question is obvious: where do all these people stay?
At present, the Island Council is not issuing tourist rental licenses for homes, unless an existing license is surrendered and the new property meets the strict requirements set out in the Island Territorial Plan (PTI). "It would be ideal for properties that are not being marketed to leave the market, making room for new ones," the speaker notes over the phone. In Ibiza, the Council closely monitors the illegal rental of holiday homes. During the first five months of this year, the authority blocked 1,500 listings for illegal tourist rentals in Ibiza—an average of 30 per day.
Combating illegal rentals
In its fight against unauthorized activity in all its forms, the island authority has imposed fines reaching up to half a million euros in some cases, although the authorities do not always manage to collect the full amount. "We need the imposed sanctions to actually be enforced," says Llano, "because big headlines are pointless if the measures aren't ultimately carried out." He emphasizes the Association's commitment to fighting unauthorized operations in the sector, aiming, among other things, to "give regulated tourist rentals the dignity and recognition they deserve." He also highlights a key point: "The holiday rental sector we represent plays a major role in sustaining the family tourism that has been declining in recent years," adding that "legal holiday rentals aren't just about luxury; there are many types of properties suited to different kinds of guests."
More information in Diario de Ibiza
Powered by Google Translator
