The perception of Ibiza as a ‘lawless city’ by some foreign tourists is due to a combination of cultural, media and behavioral factors. There are those who think that there are no rules on the island and that everyone can do whatever they want, considering that it is a space of total debauchery without consequences.
But why do they think this way? We asked the artificial intelligence what it thinks is the reason and his answer is clear and combines several factors. It is due, in part, to the expectations created by Ibiza’s own fame, which is known worldwide for its party atmosphere, freedom and debauchery. For some tourists, this is mistakenly translated as “there are no rules here”, “everything is allowed”, “what happens in Ibiza, stays in Ibiza”, etc.
There is also a important influence of social networks. Many influencers and celebrities -there are more and more of them- share only the ‘crazy’ and ‘wild’ side of their visits: parties on yachts, excessive alcohol consumption, minimal clothing, luxuries and excesses. In addition, Ibiza has been portrayed for decades as a hedonistic paradise in television programs and reality shows. This creates a distorted image of reality that live, for example, those who live on the island: Ibiza as if it were an amusement park for adults in which there are no responsibilities or consequences.
Likewise, there is a generalized perception that Ibiza is only a tourist island, as if the residents do not make their lives there. This lack of awareness -or respect- towards the local culture the result is that there are visitors who ‘skip’ the rules of coexistence, noise, road safety, etc. Added to this is the feeling of impunity they have; according to the IA, in high season, with so many tourists, “it may seem that the authorities are not enough to control everything”. This makes them believe that “nobody will fine or arrest them”; “if I do something wrong, nothing happens”….
But we must also bear in mind that there is a well-known tourism of excessesthe AI consulted, who travels with the explicit intention of breaking the rules: taking drugs, drinking to excess, having illegal parties or behaving disrespectfully. “Not all, but enough to generate a bad reputation,” explains the IA consulted, who also gives real examples such as illegal house parties, reckless driving by tourists on motorcycles or in cars without respecting the rules; nudity or sex on public roads.
But the real Ibiza, with its quiet villages, local residents and daily life is totally to this tourist image. This reinforces the feeling that there are two Ibizas: one for tourism (more unregulated) and one for residents.
For the full article, please visit Diario de Ibiza website here.