2022: year III of covid in Ibiza

Ibiza, 2021. After the uncertainty of a year ago about whether it would be possible to recover normalcy with vaccination and so-called herd immunity or, initially, before the irruption of the Delta variant, with 70 % of the population inoculated, we are entering 2022, year III of the pandemic, with more questions if possible, but with positive messages about the possible end of this nightmare. A long January slope is expected, as it was last year, with a little more certainty following what we’ve seen in 2021, with a sixth wave of contagions rampant after the Christmas excesses, but predictably, at least that is expected, with fewer hospital admissions. The Omicron variety has suddenly shifted everything, and while some epidemiologists believe it may be the last screen of the pandemic to be defeated, they also warn of the dangers of health collapse.

Following the escalation of contagions, particularly admissions at the Hospital Can Misses, where the ICU capacity was at capacity, and at the Policlnica Nuestra Seora del Rosario in January last year, the government imposed tight limitations, particularly on the hospitality and food and beverage establishments. Will they happen again? According to the autonomous Executive, all restriction actions would be based on the impact on hospitals. It is also predicted that in January, individuals over the age of 40 would be able to receive a booster immunization.

Ibiza Easter Week expectations and the reopening of nightclubs

Indeed, it is unclear how the new evolution of the pandemic with Omicron may effect economic activity in Ibiza. Easter is the first scenario. Already two years have passed without religious events (save for a few inside the temples in 2021) and tourists at the start of the season. The main difference between this year and the previous two is that the population will come at Easter vaccinated, even with booster doses in the case of older age groups.

Looking ahead to the summer, the window of opportunity is wider. Some clubs, like as Amnesia and DC-10, reopened their doors at the conclusion of last season to signal that Ibiza’s nightlife had returned. Let’s see whether Omicron agrees and the clubs open their doors at the start of the following season.

Restriction on the entry of rental cars and RVs to Ibiza

Vicent Marí, president of the Consell de Ibiza, anticipates that progress will be achieved this year in crafting the laws that would allow regulating the entry of rental vehicles and RVs to the island. This is one of the major statements made by Marí in his investiture speech in July 2019. This measure will not be implemented during the next tourist season because it requires the adoption of a statute in the Balearic Parliament.

The supply of VTCs in Ibiza is increasing, and Vila taxi drivers are taking a break

Whether there is more or less tourist activity, a bigger supply of legal transportation, Transport Vehicles with Driver, is expected (VTC). 60 VTC licenses have already been authorized by court order (10 more than the maximum quota established at the time), and another 150 are in the works. In total, the Consell is required to process over 500,000 VTC that were denied at the time for exceeding the quota of 50 without having passed the regulations that would enable it. In the summer, Vila taxi drivers will be required to halt their vehicles one day per week to safeguard the safety of the other drivers.

Tenders for new bus concessions in Ibiza are now being accepted

After revising the transportation master plan inherited from the previous administration, Consell’s centre-right government team intends to put the new bus concessions out to tender in 2022, though the new service, which should mark “a before and after” in public transportation on the island, is not expected to launch until 2023.

Tourist accommodation in “casas payesas” and administrative simplification

The Consell intends to finally approve and implement the new administrative simplification law in the coming months. This new rule controls the tourist rental of the first home of the casas payesas (before to 1956) in common rustic land, in addition to eliminating de facto the processing of the certificate of habitability at the island institution. They can use up to three rooms for 60 days out of the year.

Pending the provisional center of sa Joveria

With a year of delay and no set launch date, the implementation of the sa Joveria center cannot be postponed much longer. Due to a delay in the processing of the definitive center planned in es Gorg, the Consell decided to create this center to provide services to homeless people as soon as possible.