British tourists in Magaluf face being asked to sign a code of conduct document when they check into their hotels this summer - and they could be fined £50,000 for jumping off balconies.
Majorca’s hotel association is encouraging members to protect themselves by making sure tourists agree in writing to behave themselves.
The move comes after the introduction of new measures designed to stamp out drunken tourism in party resorts including Magaluf in Majorca and the neighbouring island of Ibiza.
Holidaymakers caught leaping off their balconies in the areas covered by the new regional government decree have been warned they could be hit with fines of up to €60,000 (£51,000).
Hotels which fail in a new legal obligation to kick out guests engaging in the dangerous practice, known locally as balconing, have also been told to expect the same type of fines.
The document Majorca hotel federation FEHM has drafted and sent to its member hotels in Magaluf and the German-popular party resort of S’Arenal, which is also affected by the new regulations, says: “The hotel management informs clients that it is forbidden to engage in practices which endanger life, health and physical integrity in this establishment, for example by passing from a balcony or window to another and jumping from unsuitable locations into the swimming pool.”
It adds: “Guests who carry out these dangerous practices will be expelled immediately by hotel management, with the assistance of the forces of law and order if necessary.”
Holidaymakers where hotels decide to implement the change will be asked to sign and date the document and record their passport and room numbers at check-in.
The code of conduct also highlights the fines that can be levied on guests who break the rules and warns them: “We also inform you that taking drinks of any kind outside the hotel is strictly prohibited.”
Maria Jose Aguilo, vice-president of the FEHM which has 900 member hotels in Majorca, said the association was recommending the introduction of the document but confirmed it was “optional.”
She told respected local paper Ultima Hora: “The only objective here is to offer more legal protection in case of claims.”
Officials at the association said today it was too early to say what the take-up by hotels would be.
The new decree against drunken tourism was announced on January 17 and took effect following its publication in an Official State Gazette five days later.
It was approved by regional MPs on Tuesday. Only far-right wing party Vox voted against ratifying the decree, branding it “discriminatory” and “botched” and predicting it would lead to job losses.
The decree covers Magaluf, S’Arenal and the West End part of San Antonio in Ibiza which is also popular with British holidaymakers.
It bans pub crawls and drink offers like happy hours and 2x1 in those areas.
The decree, valid for five years, also limits the number of alcoholic drinks served in restaurants and hotels as part of all-inclusive offers to three at lunch and three at dinner.
Party boat operators are banned from picking up and dropping off revellers in the areas the law covers.
And shops in the resorts will be banned from selling alcohol between 9.30pm and 8am.
A regional government spokesman confirmed after its introduction: “The new rules establish a penalty regime which puts special emphasis on serious and very serious misdemeanours.
“Those practices which are dangerous and cause risk to life or endanger the integrity and health of clients or the tourists who engage in them, will be considered serious misdemeanours.
“Serious misdemeanours will be dealt with by way of fines of between €6,000 (£5,100) and €60,000 (£51,000).”
The mayor whose remit includes Magaluf has welcomed the new decree.
Alfonso Rodriguez Badal, whose council has waged a long-standing war on badly-behaved holidaymakers, described it as an “important step”, adding: “I am convicted that sooner or later these efforts will pay off.”
Calvia Council, which Rodriguez Badal fronts, said in a statement: “The town hall feels the decree responds to the calls being made for the need for a supra-municipal regulatory framework that limits certain practices.”
It added: “The municipality has spent years requesting measures that complement those that have been taken at town hall level.
“It’s a very important step that Calvia’s calls for a joint effort by all the actors involved have been heard, so we can advance in the reconversion of a destination that cannot be reversed.”
Majorca hotel association FEHM has warned the three-drinks limit will impact on hotels which do not work with the type of client the decree is aimed at.
