TOURIST bosses in Majorca say they fear for their businesses as activists stage another protest today aimed at driving out British visitors.
A charter boat owner revealed he had been getting emails from clients asking if it was still safe to visit the Spanish isle.
1
Businesses in Majorca are worried about the impact of protests on their tradeCredit: Solarpix
And one bar worker in party resort Magaluf said it was quieter than normal, leading to fears protests were starting to bite and hitting trade.
Activists have urged protesters to occupy the beaches today in their continuing campaign against mass tourism, which they blame for making housing too pricey for islanders.
They want limits on visitors and restrictions on foreign property buyers.
Last weekend, 15,000 people took to the streets in Majorca’s capital Palma.
Protesters held up signs telling “Guiri” — a term referring to foreigners, particularly Brits — to go home.
Anti-tourist graffiti has also appeared in the island.
But boat charter boss Yannick Slock, 34, says he fears for the future of his business if the protests continue.
He said: “It was a surprise to get an email from a client in New Zealand.
“They said, ‘Do you think it’s safe to come still?’. We thought, ‘Wow, the news has travelled across the world’.
“Let’s see how the protests go today. You just hope they don’t get violent. That would definitely affect business.”
of the historic anti mass tourism protest in Majorca have apologised for the abuse directed at holidaymakers
And the Magaluf bar worker added: “It is very quiet at the moment here compared to previous years. Hopefully, things will get moving again soon.”
Javier Barbero, from protest group Banc del Temps, said: “This is just the start.
“If measures aren’t taken we will continue taking to the streets.”
FURIOUS locals at a Menorca holiday hotspot have closed off their streets to keep tourists out in the latest blow against holidaymakers.
The 195 homeowners of Binibeca Vell, dubbed the “Mykonos of Spain“, don’t want any visitors before 11am and after 8pm as protests erupt across neighbouring Majorca and Ibiza.
11
Furious locals in Menorca have closed off their streets with anti-tourist signsCredit: Reuters
11
Binibeca Vell is dubbed the ‘Mykonos of Spain’ because of its tiny alleyways and whitewashed homesCredit: Reuters
11
The town attracts numerous visitors every year, but residents are now fed up with itCredit: Reuters
11
Homeowners have placed ropes or chains in several areas across Binibeca to block tourists outCredit: Reuters
Locals have voiced complaints about tourists disrespecting private property by going through their doors, scaling balconies, and climbing stairs in an attempt to get the perfect social media snap.
Known for its whitewashed cottages and winding walkways, Binibeca can only accommodate 500 permanent residents in the summer, but every year 800,000 tourists cram into its alleyways.
But recent pictures now show the picturesque town almost completely deserted, as many of its alleyways have ropes and chains with a small round sign indicating not to trespass.
The chains are the town’s first anti-tourist measure before residents take a vote on whether to ban tourists altogether in August, The Telegraph reports.
Read more on Anti-Tourism
The president of the residents association, Óscar Monge, accused the Menorca government of neglecting to control tourism in the region and leaving people to take matters into their own hands.
He said: “Binibeca is promoted by the administration and tourism companies, but what benefit do we get out of it?
“We pay dearly for being the most potent tourist attraction in Menorca.”
The residents organisation receives €25,000 annually from the local government to repair and touch up the outside painting of the town’s houses.
Mr Monge, however, feels that this amount is insufficient and has sought a strategy for sustainable management of the region.
Riot cops clash with Barcelona anti-tourist protests at Louis Vuitton fashion show as holiday fury sweeps Spain
11
Thousands have taken to the streets of Majorca on Saturday to protest against ‘over-tourism’ in the Spanish paradiseCredit: Solarpix
11
Fuming locals say tourist saturation is ruining MajorcaCredit: Solarpix
11
A demonstrator holds an ‘SOS residents’ sign on Saturday’s protestsCredit: Solarpix
He said: “It’s outrageous that the politicians who run local tourism are telling us that the only alternatives we have to keep the place clean are to close it, privatise it or start charging.”
There are 1.2 million permanent people in the Balearic Islands, which are home to Menorca, the smaller neighour of popular tourist destinations Majorca and Ibiza.
In 2023, the islands saw about 18 million tourists arrive, hitting a record for the archipelago.
And 14.4 million of these were foreign visitors, the majority of whom were Germans and Brits.
Menorca is the latest Spanish destination to see anti-tourist signs and demonstrations, following on from Majorca, Ibiza, Tenerife and the other Canary Islands over the past month.
The organisers of the Ibiza demo, a group called Prou Eivissa, met with Ibiza’s president Vicent Mari before taking to the streets.
Their demands include a limit on the number of vehicles that can enter the island in summer and a ban on using taxpayers’ cash to promote Ibiza as a tourist destination.
The main focus of the march will be the difficulty local people have in affording homes in Majorca, either for rent or sale, due to the higher prices owners can get for holiday rentals.
But protesters will also spotlight all other aspects of tourist saturation which they say is ruining Majorca.
The protests were the latest since April 20 when thousands in the Canary Islands took to the streets to demonstrate against mass tourism and demand actions from their politicians.
Zealots in Tenerife were said to have held up banners saying “You enjoy we suffer” and “Tourism moratorium now”.
Local authorities said that said around 30,000 people had taken part in the demonstrations, while organisers put the figure at 80,000.
11
Residents say they’re fed up with foreigners ‘ruining’ their hometownsCredit: Alamy
11
Thousands of holidaymakers – mainly Brits and Germans – flock to coastal Spain and its islands every summerCredit: Alamy
11
Graffiti against tourism was spotted in Barcelona earlier this yearCredit: Rex
11
Canary Islands residents say their standard of living is dropping as a result of the current tourism modelCredit: Canarian Weekly
Anti-tourist measures sweeping hotspots
MENORCA and Majorca are just some of the European hotspots implementing anti-tourist measures.
Many top holiday destinations across the continent are taking action to prevent unwanted travellers from taking over their towns and cities.
Locals feel they can no longer live in the iconic destinations because they have become overcrowded, unsafe and uncomfortable.
They say there are too many cars on the roads, traffic congestion, overcrowded beaches, blocked access roads, ruined beauty spots and just too many holidaymakers flocking to the island which expects record figures this summer.
The anti-tourist hordes filled a square in the capital brandishing banners including some that read “You enjoy we suffer” in English.
Protests also took place at the same time on other popular Canary islands including Lanzarote and Gran Canaria.
The marches were organised under the slogan “The Canary Islands have a limit.”
Hotel bosses in Benidorm have even admitted they are “very worried” by the anger growing amongst island residents but branded holiday homes in Spain a “virus”.
Politicians are keen to implement a new set of rules on cruise ships in terms of taxation, the environment or the use of less polluting fuels to lower numbers coming into the Balearics.
