Dep. Legal A PM 42-2025 - 140 - 2004 - ISSN - ISSN 3015-1309 2488-1686
PALMA is about to take to the water, for real. Next year, the biggest city in Mallorca plans to launch its new ‘boat bus’, an innovative and sustainable maritime transport service. Palma’s boat bus could change the way people navigate the city. The service is designed to link key points along the port while also cutting congestion on the streets. But one question remains: who will actually run it? The Port Authority of the Balearic Islands (APB) has narrowed it down to just two contenders. On one side, there’s the famous German tour operator TUI. On the other, a homegrown joint venture formed by Sercomisa (Trasmapi), ALSA, and Barcos Azules. Both are pitching to operate this new service. Initially, the new transport option in Palma will feature three routes and four low-emission vessels, each capable of carrying 100 passengers. But if successful, it might become the future of city travel. Main stops will include Maritime Station No. 6, Poniente Quay, Golondrinas Quay, Portitxol, and the Royal
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Steps at Lonja Quay. The boats are set to run daily from 7am to 10pm, with weekend services stretching to midnight, so perfect for both commuters and night owls. The initiative is part of a Mobility Plan designed not just to move people but also to make Palma’s
port area greener, calmer, and more pedestrian and cyclist-friendly. By linking the boat service with other transport options, the APB hopes to encourage a shift away from private cars. At the same time, it’s a way of reclaiming the waterfront for residents and visitors.
Health boost
Thirty-five new pharmacies in Mallorca.
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Raising standards
Palma’s boat bus could change the way people navigate the city.
Credit: Hadrian/Shutterstock
MALLORCA is about to see a pharmacy boom. The Balearic Health Department has greenlit 35 new licences across the islands. The goal is to keep up with the islands’ growing population and also booming tourism. Palma tops the list with 14, followed by Manacor with four, Llucmajor three, and Alcudia two. Other municipalities like Inca, Muro, Marratxí, Pollença, and Soller also make the cut, while Ibiza sees Sant Josep and Santa Eularia added thanks to tourist-heavy areas and second-home population. The updated pharmacy catalogue, last revised in 2015, takes into account both residents and seasonal visitors. It calculates one pharmacy per 2,800 people and adds an extra for every 3,500 tourists or seasonal
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Credit: Balearic Ports Authority official website
Palma sails
Mallorca • No. 2100• 2 - 8 October 2025
residents. The strategy is to make sure no one goes without essential pharmaceutical services. With the approval, new licensing contests can now be launched. This helps the local pharmacy landscape and offers opportunities for entrepreneurs in the area. At the same time, it is prompting current pharmacies to prepare for increased competition. So after a decade without updates, the Balearics are finally catching up, making sure everyone has access to healthcare essentials.
MALLORCA’S hotel sector is sending a clear message: tourists are paying more, and they expect quality in return. María José Aguiló, executive vice-president of the Mallorca Hoteliers’ Federation (FEHM), made the point at the 20th Risk Management in Tourism conference in Palma. “Each sector speaks from its own circumstances,” she told reporters. “The hotel sector is seeing the results of long-term investment and a commitment to quality. That work allows us to maintain a sound pricing policy. Other sectors need to make the same leap.” She added a warning about standards matching prices: “Customers know that if they are paying more, they expect quality service in return. Some parts of the industry meet that expectation, others don’t. Those that don’t need to do their homework.” The conference also tackled wider tourism risks. “To face risks, you need knowledge and security,” Aguiló said. “We are living in a time of volatility and uncertainty, where geopolitics affects all economic activity, and tourism is especially sensitive.” On overtourism, she said: “Economies can’t exist without growth. The key is not to grow more, but to grow better, to have sustainable success.” Aguiló also highlighted the damage caused by illegal holiday rentals and the need for “a natural shift towards tourism that is more sensitive to local communities.” Other local experts echoed the call for responsible tourism, noting that market diversification (like the new Palma-Abu Dhabi route) is a positive step. All in all, the message is clear: Mallorca’s hotels have raised the bar, and the rest of the tourism industry needs to keep up.
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