THE ‘cheating capital’ of Europe has been revealed – with a boozy Brit hotspot in the sun taking the number one position.
July 22 was also found to be the most popular day of the year for cheating, with a mammoth 77 per cent rise in the number of nefarious flings.
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Brits are believed to view Magaluf as the top destination for a secret holiday romance, say dating site IllicitEncounters.
Dubbed “the mecca for cheating”, Magaluf took the crown after 2,000 members were asked to rank the likeliness of them cheating in a number of popular tourist destinations around Europe.
Magaluf was followed by Benidorm and the ever popular Greek island of Zante in the charts.
Jessica Leoni, a relationships expert, told the Daily Star: “Alcohol, sun, and the sense of freedom you get from being in a different place are the perfect storm when it comes to a holiday fling.
“Magaluf has been famed for its boozed-fuelled breaks for decades, and its popularity with stag and hen dos is another reason it is still considered a mecca for cheating.
“Meeting fellow big groups on holiday where alcohol is flowing is the perfect combination for flirting which can easily lead to intimacy with a random lover.”
Alongside the booze, another reason for the holiday flings is how far away couples are apart.
Leoni described the idea of cheating being “inevitable” for some on their trips away.
Due to a heightened belief that the distance will make it near impossible for it to be uncovered.
Although, a whopping 87 per cent of people on the site also admitted to continuing with messaging their mysterious partner when they returned home.
The site also first named July 22 as the perfect time for those with a wandering eye back in 2022 – with it staying as the most popular day ever since.
The reason for the very specific date is related to it being in the heart of summer and around the time schools break up.
For many schools, they break up around this time in July meaning the week in general is prone to cheating as its the last day parents are away from their children.
Therefore making it much harder to sneak off on a hidden date when you have to keep the kids entertained.
Leoni gave another reason, citing technology as a huge factor.
She said: “Technology has definitely made it easier to cheat, likewise, it has made it easier to catch a cheat by leaving a digital trail.”
MAGALUF TOURISM WOES
It comes as Magaluf has slashed its Red Zone that was marked by restrictive booze laws set to limit rowdy Brit revellers.
The toughened-up regional government restrictions were announced last month to curb some of the worst tourist-hit areas in parts of Majorca and Ibiza.
The Balearic government’s decision to reduce the prohibited area comes as the party town became “half empty” after weeks of anti-tourism protests.
Authorities previously introduced toughened-up restrictions in the sunny holiday hotspot to stamp out tourist bad behaviour.
News rules including a “total ban of the sale of alcohol between 9.30pm and 8am” in shops in areas of excessive tourism were approved just last month.
However, amid the raging anti-tourism protests in the Balearic Islands, the number of tourists visiting the holiday islands has reduced drastically – affecting the local economy.
This forced the lawmakers to reduce the restrictive area to almost 90 per cent.
Spanish lawmakers who proposed to slash said: “[We are] defending tourism businesses against the attempts of the socialists to damage the image of the municipality.
“The town hall is committed to positioning Magalluf as a safe and quality tourist destination.
“The socialists want to maintain the stigmatisation of bars, restaurants and supermarkets, causing a large area to be harmed.”
However, many Spanish politicians have criticised the decision to reduce the area of Magaluf.
Alfonso Rodriguez, former mayor of Calvia, said it sent out the wrong message in the fight against boozy tourists and could lead to things worsening.
Elsewhere, anti-tourism protests continue to erupt across multiple European holiday hotspots as locals call for an end to “low quality” tourism.
Residents complain of shameful acts by tourists such as the display of nudity and frequent violent brawls after getting drunk.
Hordes of protesters recently took over Majorca’s beaches in the latest efforts to squeeze out foreigners.
Pictures showed families and other locals gathered under umbrellas covered in the slogan “Ocupem Les Nostres Platges”, which translates into: “We occupy our beaches”.
However, tourist bosses in Majorca say they fear for their businesses if activists continue to stage protests 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.
Anti-tourist measures sweeping hotspots
MAJORCA and Menorca 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.
In April, thousands of people took to the streets in Tenerife to demand restrictions on holidaymakers after telling Brits to “go home”.
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”.
More recently, the Committee on Tourism, Trade, Employment, Culture and Sport reportedly approved an initiative to reintroduce a cap on cruise ships to Palma, Majorca’s capital.
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.
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