The works of the first fairground in Palma, in the Son Ferriol district, will begin in 2027 after having organised an ideas competition and drawn up the construction project. Procedures that will last 18 months and will begin in 2025, more precisely in March of next year.
To this end, the City Council of the capital of the Balearic Islands has processed the request addressed to the Government to declare of regional interest the land that will house the exhibition centre, the socio-health area of Son Llàtzer and the future institute of Son Ferriol. At the same time, it has requested one million euros from the Sustainable Tourism Tax (ecotasa) to cover the development of the project, with the intention that the provision of services for the new exhibition centre and its construction can be carried out in parallel.
Naturally, the realization of the largest of the infrastructures planned in the capital of the Balearic Islands during the current legislature, in addition to the renovation of the Gesa building for its transformation into a Museum of Contemporary Art, will be conditioned by its financing, as well as by the deadlines for its execution.
Palma City Council is currently developing the specific urban planning amendment to demarcate the land and give it the use of the socio-cultural facilities necessary for the land where the Palma Exhibition Centre, often promised but never realised, will be located.
The municipal government chaired by the PP mayor, Jaime Martinezwill first organize an ideas competition, as was the case for the renovation of the shopping malls and the entire Plaza Mayor, to encourage innovation in the construction of this important facility and ensure sufficient technical solvency of the project drafting team, as well as the provision of services necessary for its implementation.
Likewise, the urban planning office responsible for its design will have to resolve the connection with the green axis that will connect the fairgrounds to the nearest population center, the Son Ferriol neighborhood.
A jury of experts will define and present the technical, economic and environmental requirements that the winning proposal must meet.
Palma City Council will award the drafting of the winning project at the end of next year 2025, and will give nine months for its presentation (September 2025) and already in 2026, the works of service and urbanization of the land will begin. . which will house the fair pavilion.
Although the execution of the works “is conditional on obtaining financing”, as the municipal plan recognizes, if all goes well, their construction would begin during the 2027 election year.
The main objective of this exhibition centre in Palma, far from the Congress Palace, in an urban area easily accessible by road and communications, is the creation of a socio-cultural equipment for holding fairs, exhibitions and will be a key element in promoting tourist deseasonalization.
The intention of the municipal government is to have a special impact on projects related to culture and sport that improve the connectivity of the islands, promoting a flourishing economic activity in an area, such as that of Son Llàtzer, not developed in the city. However, and initially, It was in Nou Levante that Mayor Martínez intended to build it, as announced during the electoral campaign of the last municipal elections, in what is called the Digital District.
Once this location was ruled out, the Palma exhibition park project, finally, as the municipality’s spokesman acknowledged, Mercedes Celeste, “This will contribute powerfully to promoting deseasonalization and the activation of new demand profiles.”
