The Chief Executive of Meliá Hotels International says Spain should impose further controls on inbound tourism when it takes over the EU Council presidency next month.

Speaking at a conference in Palma, Majorca, Gabriel Escarrer said this would be a chance to regulate the ‘chaos’ around holiday rentals, Majorca Daily Bulletin reports.

The country takes over the rotating presidency for six months on 1 July.

Mr Escarrer said: “Visitors no longer interact with residents, but with other tourists in an environment that risks becoming a theme park.

“This loss of identity will take its toll because it does not represent sustainable development of the tourism model.”

Lanzarote President Dolores Corujo has repeatedly raised concerns the Canary Islands becoming saturated with tourists and the Lanzarote had exceed its ‘tourist carrying capacity’.

Earlier this year, she hit the headlines earlier this year after she reportedly said she wanted Lanzarote to move away from high-volume British bookings, before clarifying her remarks later.

Pictured: Puerto del Carmen in Lanzarote