One of the most beautiful villages in Majorca has banned non-residents from driving through it in response to the over-tourism that some say is ruining the area. Biniaraix, near Fornalutx, already had the ban in place over weekends, but as of Monday tourists will no longer be able to enter the village by car. A multilingual sign has been put up to warn tourists away while residents of Biniaraix and the neighbouring towns of Soller and Fornalutx are still able to pass through.
Biniaraix is a transit zone for accessing other rural areas of Marroig and Barranc, so the new ban will ease congestion and allow residents to move easily between the towns. reports Soller councillor Carlos Darder as saying “on the first day of the application many residents of Biniaraix said that they have noticed a drop in the intensity of traffic.” The nearby town of Soller has also demanded that similar action be taken to address their traffic issues.
Darder backs the ban. He added: “We cannot sit idly by. We must remind other institutions that their obligation is to know and control the carrying capacity of roads and, if necessary, limit the number of vehicles arriving from outside the island.
” The recent ban follows on from weeks of protest in the Balearic islands against over-tourism. Last week, a march attended by thousands in the Majorcan capital of Palma, demanded a limit to the number of tourists allowed to visit. Protesters were fuming over the Airbnb rentals which have decimated affo.
