Prosperous but controlled tourism
In 2023, Formentera's economy experienced a significant recovery, underpinned by the tourism sector, which accounts for around 60% of the island's GDP. This growth was driven by an increase in visitor numbers, reaching levels almost equivalent to those of 2019, before the pandemic. Tourism now accounts for the majority of the small island's GDP. It's hard to believe that in the 1960s, the island was home to just two guesthouses. In the 80s, Formentera already had 2,500 beds, and today there are over 12,000! Fortunately, successive measures have curbed construction and preserved the island and its fragile ecosystem.
Limited access for motor vehicles
Strict restrictions on motor vehicles have been introduced on Formentera to protect the fragile environment and mitigate the impact of mass tourism. Since the adoption of Law 7/2019, the Formentera.eco initiative limits the number of cars and motorcycles that can circulate on the island between June 1 and September 30. The aim is to reduce pollution, preserve the natural landscape, and promote environmentally-friendly alternatives such as cycling and walking. To register your vehicle in Formentera during the summer season, visit the official Formentera.eco website.
Controlling ecological impact
As an island, Formentera is heavily dependent on imports, both for water and for food and other everyday products. In order to support the island's high summer visitor numbers, the government is forced to increase the rate of imports. The direct consequence of this is an increase in waste production, which in turn pollutes the seas and soils. In addition to plastic pollution, marine saturation off the coast is also weakening ecosystems already weakened by global warming. Not to mention drought and water scarcity, two major challenges!
Coping with the migration crisis
The migratory crisis in the Mediterranean is worsening, with an increase in irregular arrivals in the EU: 264,000 migrants in 2023, compared with 190,000 in 2022 and 150,000 in 2021. In the Balearic Islands, these flows tripled in 2024, exceeding 3,000 arrivals, mainly from North and sub-Saharan Africa. This situation is exacerbating political tensions, between border reinforcement and urgent humanitarian response. In Formentera, arrivals are multiplying, but reception capacities are limited or non-existent, and many migrants are being transferred to detention centers in Ibiza or Mallorca.
