BRITS could soon be contending with migrant hotels even while on their holidays under plans being considered for Spanish islands in the Med.
The Balearic islands of Mallorca and Ibiza are prepping a UK-style approach to deal with growing numbers of illegal migrants arriving on their shores.
ReutersA rescue worker carries a migrant child arriving on a Spanish island[/caption]
Supplied / Francis KinnonA migrant boat arriving on Spain’s shores[/caption]
GettyThousands of migrants have arrived on the glittering shores of Ibiza, pictured here, and Mallorca[/caption]
Thousands of migrants have been washing up in pateras – small wooden boats – from Morocco or Algeria in the hope of getting into Spain.
Officials in the holiday hotspots have already issued desperate pleas for the Spanish government to take action against the numbers, and have even lodged a Supreme Court appeal.
But with no sign of robust solutions and the anticipated mass arrival of pateras – the Balearic government has warned it will be forced to pay hotels for accommodation.
The Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration has begun setting aside part of its budget pay for hotel rooms.
It’s unclear if migrants would be housed alongside tourists in the same hotels, or if whole hotels would be shut to the public for migrants to solely occupy.
Britain has been grappling with the fallout of the same policy over here.
A huge amount of tax-payer money is sunk into hotels around the country housing migrants.
The presence of migrants has sown tension within communities, particularly in a handful of cases where migrants have been linked to crimes.
Other European countries have taken a much tougher stance, and seen the impact that deterrent can have on the number of arrivals.
Locals in Ibiza and Majorca are already railing against the prospect.
They claim it’s unfair on islanders who are struggling to make ends meet with housing and living costs.
Similar complaints have come out of the UK – and people have been particularly incensed to discover migrants waiting for deportation were to be offered balloon-making and floristry classes.
One furious Balearic resident posted: “We live off tourism and no one likes to go on vacation and see this.
Another wrote: “All inclusive I don’t think but full board for sure. They have to feed them. I don’t think they’re in a hurry to get out of the hotel.
A third said: “We cannot throw away hotels and even less the first line ones.”
Jam Press VidOne video captured the moment migrants arrived on a beach in Majorca[/caption]
AlamyBritain has been locked in a row over the use of hotels to house migrants[/caption]
Somebody believed this issue is “currently the most worrying that we have both at the State and Community level”.
Another person jibed: “All that remains is to put a good banner on the beaches and welcome illegal immigrants saying: ‘Come to paradise.’”
Hotel rooms would only be used in a last-resort scenario, the islands’ government said, such as running out of space in the accommodation currently allocated to house migrants.
Buying up hotel rooms is part of an emergency action plan drawn up to ensure the Balearics will be able to deliver their responsibility to meet the basic needs of the migrants.
The Balearic government has already lodged an appeal in the Supreme Court against the Spanish government’s decision to allow a certain number of migrant children to stay in different parts of the country – including the Balearics and the Canaries.
Plans are underway to build more reception centres for all the migrants who arrive in Mallorca and Ibiza, as well as Menorca and Formentera.
A migrant in a hotel flips off a protest after it was ruled the government could continue using the hotels
BNPSProtests have erupted across the UK against the record numbers of migrants arriving[/caption]
The Balearic government’s new plan to deal with migrants has a budget of €6.7 million is divided into two lots.
First is €1.6 million for temporary care systems including furniture and air conditioning.
The remaining €5.1 million is allocated for accommodation, food, cleaning and security – plus ferry tickets for migrants who are sent to the peninsula.
Hotel rooms would be paid for from this bit of the budget in the event that space runs out in the migrant care centres.
A catering company has already been lined up to feed the migrants each day with the help of the Red Cross.