Why Ibiza's a crap holiday island

If you want an island holiday head for the freezing Faroes way off the coast of Denmark, or the Azores in the middle of the Atlantic or Scotland’s isolated Shetland Isles. Whatever you do avoid Ibiza, that was the message from a survey of experts by the prestigious National Geographic Traveler.

The magazine looked at 111 holiday islands around the world and asked 522 sustainable tourism experts to score them all. Ibiza received 37 points putting it equal bottom with St Thomas in the Virgin Islands, a former beauty spot which is now overwhelmed by millions of cruise ship tourists.

“Ibiza is not Spanish anymore. Or Balearic. It is a colony of Europe and, at times, seems more a colony of British ravers. Half the island is still 'natural.' The other half has been lost completely to the party circuit,” said one anonymous expert.

Another added: “Ibiza cannot get rid of the vicious circle it went through a few years ago. Booze, partying, and drugs are a big part of an increasingly sleazy scene.”

But they weren’t all totally negative: “Some might argue that Ibiza has been despoiled, but a closer inspection reveals much that is still appealing: centuries-old defense towers and churches; walks from beach to beach on largely unspoiled stretches with rocky outcrops; and beautiful views of Es Vedra rock off the southwest coast.”

There was also a ray of hope from the magazine’s editor Jonathan B Tourtellot who said that in resorts blessed with sun and sea development can soon get out of hands. “No surprise, then, that cloudy, beach-poor islands score well,” he said. Given the weather this autumn there’s still hope for Ibiza.

Suspended sentence for hopeless arsonist

A 21-year-old has been spared jail after a botched arson attempt in August 2006. He had bought petrol with the intention of setting fire to the car of his mother’s ex-boyfriend.

The boyfriend’s car was a Fiat Panda but the bungling burner got it mixed up with a Fiat Uno belonging to somebody else. Having set fire to the wrong car the flames spread to four other cars near the old cemetery on the outskirts of San Antonio. The heat from the blazing vehicles then set fire to 3,500 square metres of scrubland creating a spectacular show for many San Antonio tourists.

The culprit was caught after he handed himself into the police station with burnt feet. And the reason the local police were looking for him? An officer had earlier seen him buying the petrol. Asked what it was for the youth truthfully replied it was to set fire to a car. The cop thought he was joking.

Deaf whales

Whales and dolphins are being deafened by noise pollution in the seas around Ibiza. But it’s not the incessant beat of the island’s world-famous discos that’s causing the problems. It’s the increasing number of passenger ships, yachts and fishing boats that is threatening the fragile marine ecosystem.

Scientists warn that the noise around the Balearics, Canaries and in the Straits of Gibraltar could have a disastrous effect on the whale and dolphin population. The deafened mammals lose the ability to use their sonar systems and die when they are hit by boats.

Tax hike for absent home owners

Council chiefs in Ibiza’s biggest tourist resort are planning to slap a hefty tax penalty on owners of empty homes. It’s an attempt to increase the supply of properties available to let and drive down prices. Current rents are beyond the reach of many ordinary families.

“We have discovered in the municipality it is very difficult to places for less than 450 to 550 euros a month which puts a heavy load on many people, especially families of lower middle incomes,” said local housing chief Joan Pantaleoni. Where the council finds evidence through utility bills and so on that a place has been empty for a year the IBI tax may be increased by several hundred euros a year. Pantaleoni added that this was very much an experiment.

Taking the Micky in court

More than three years after the road rage incident which allegedly left Spanish TV actor and singer Micky Molina 44 permanently scarred, the British man Robert P will finally appear in court in February. The case was due to be heard in June.

The public prosecutor blames Robert P for attacking Molina with a sharp implement after a crash in the Ibiza resort of San Antonio. A sentence of three-and-a-half years is being requested although it’s possible that Molina’s lawyers will press for increase to five years for a charge of attempted murder.

Golf course row

Ibiza council chiefs have rejected another planned golf course which the developer Andria Investments claimed would be a 100 million euro investment in the island and would bring quality tourists year-round.

The course and a five-star hotel would have been built on the outskirts of San Antonio on the west of the island. A few weeks ago another planned golf development on the east at Playa d’en Bossa was rejected. The backer of that course is a leading member of the Partido Popular and the current council actions are seen by some as revenge following the PP’s loss of power in the May elections.