An army of homeless Ibiza workers are being forced to sleep in makeshift camps after being priced out of their homes.
Striking images show what looks like a shanty town with makeshift accommodation on a patch of scrubland dubbed Can Rova 2.
Just a few miles away, a stark contrast can be observed as tourists, among them hundreds of thousands of British visitors, revel through the night and lodge in opulent villas and hotels.
Residents blame overtourism for the crippling housing crisis that has gripped the party island.
Famed for its vibrant nightlife, crystal-clear waters, sandy beaches and warm sunshine, Ibiza’s allure comes at a cost.
There simply is not enough housing to accommodate the millions of tourists who visit each year, leading to a surge in illegal holiday rentals.
The situation has deteriorated due to the transformation of residential properties into short-term holiday rentals, reducing the availability of long-term rental options.
Enrique Gómez Bastida, the director of the department responsible for combating illegal housing in Ibiza, expressed concerns that the increase in tourist villas and even the rental of additional rooms within homes has severely strained the island’s resources.
An army of homeless Ibiza workers are being forced to sleep in makeshift camps after being priced out of homes by soaring rent prices. Pictured: Rocio sleeps inside her motorhome, as her father sits outside
Shocking images show how locals are living in tents and caravans with their families while revellers enjoy luxurious accommodation. Pictured: Richard, 35, worker of construction of housing, stands inside his shack, where their family lives at a makeshift settlement
Residents blame overtourism for the crippling housing crisis that has gripped the party island. Pictured: A worker’s campervan sits in front of a hotel, where she lives due to the severe housing crisis
Locals have been forced to move into shanty towns and even tents. Pictured: A general drone view shows a makeshift settlement called Can Rova 2
Sobering images reveal the stark contrast between island residents struggling to make ends meet and tourists enjoying the holiday of a lifetime. Pictured: Tourists dancing inside a discotheque near Playa d’en Bossa beach during the housing crisis
There simply is not enough housing to accommodate the millions of tourists who visit each year, leading to a surge in illegal holiday rentals. Pictured: A worker’s clothes hang out to dry behind of their motorhome
The situation has been made worse by the conversion of residential properties into short-term holiday lets, shrinking the supply of long-term rentals. Pictured: Tourists enjoy the sunset in the Sant Antoni de Portmany on the North central coast of Ibiza
Pictured: Can Rova 2 resident, Rosario, 28, celebrates her birthday inside the makeshift settlement
Soaring property prices have caused a housing crisis so severe that many municipal workers – including judges, police officers and medial workers – are now unable to afford to live there.
Locals have been forced to move into shanty towns and even tents.
However, it is not residents alone who have been impacted by the crisis but some tourists too.
In some cases, holidaymakers arrive on the island to find they have been tricked into paying for non-existent flats or even phantom luxury villas, Gómez Bastida, a former lieutenant colonel in the Civil Guard, said.
‘Housing access is a real and serious problem,’ he told The i Paper.
‘Increasing tourist accommodation poses a problem of overcrowding on the island and therefore, an imbalance in the tourist ecosystem.’
The island’s council has recently introduced a major new rule designed to combat overtourism.
Soaring property prices have caused a housing crisis so severe that many municipal workers – including judges, police officers and medial workers – are now unable to afford to live there. Pictured: Isaias, 11, plays in front of a makeshift settlement called Can Rova 2
Pictured: A woman looks on inside her shack at the makeshift settlement Can Rova 2
Pictured: The silhouette of a woman is pictured as she cooks inside her shack of a makeshift settlement Can Rova 2
Rosario pushes her baby’s pushchair around the camp
It is not residents alone who have been impacted by the crisis but some tourists too. Pictured: Tourists walk towards a discotheque near Playa d’en Bossa beach
In some cases, holidaymakers arrive on the island to find they have been tricked into paying for non-existent flats or even phantom luxury villas, Gómez Bastida, a former lieutenant colonel in the Civil Guard, said. Pictured: Sunseekers from Britain dance on the beach
The island’s council has recently introduced a major new rule designed to combat overtourism. Pictured: A tourist takes a picture of her glass on the north central coast of Ibiza, Spain
Tourists sit on a bench before walking towards a discotheque near Playa d’en Bossa beach
It is now limiting the number of tourist cars and caravans that can visit.
In place from June 1, the rule is set to run until September 30 throughout peak season in Ibiza.
During the four-month period, only 20,168 vehicles used by non-residents will be allowed on the island.
Up to 16,000 of these can be rental cars while the other 4,108 will be for tourists who travel by ferry to the island with their own vehicle.
Tourists who want to take their own car to Ibiza will need to obtain a permit at a cost of €1/84p per day.
Caravan owners will need to provide evidence of a campsite booking and will not be allowed into Ibiza if they plan to wild camp at the side of the road.
Although Ibiza has just 160,000 residents, it gets more than three million tourists per year.
As the number of tourists has risen, more cars have hit the road, causing congestion across the island.
A waiter carries drink to the tourists as they sunbathe at Playa d’en Bossa beach
A general drone view shows motorhomes where workers with their families live
Tourists dance inside a discotheque near Playa d’en Bossa beach
Tourists push their luggages, as they walk towards their rental car
Ibiza has recently seen protests against tourism with locals complaining that the industry has caused housing to become unaffordable.
Last year, more than 1,000 protestors took to the streets in Ibiza to rage against mass tourism.
And, earlier this month thousands of locals marched across Spanish Islands to tell Brits to ‘go home’ as part of widespread protests against so-called ‘overtourism’.
Holidaymakers were visibly stunned by the dramatic demonstrations in Palma de Mallorca and Ibiza on June 15.
Around 1,000 protesters took part in the Ibiza march organised by major anti-tourism platform Canviem el Rumb, which has been carrying out demonstrations in the Spanish holiday hotspot over the last year.
Security was stepped up to protect tourists from the demonstrators, who left Portal de Ses Taules in the town centre at around 6pm and ended at Plaza de sa Graduada, in front of the courts at 9pm.
