The Balearic Islands are feeling the full force of the protests with the industry apparently panicking as it realises the holiday islands got what they wished for with no tourists
Anti-tourism protesters have been warned that holidaymakers are being put off coming to Spain by their actions.
In news that may cheer campaigners fighting against over-tourism, a recent poll found close to half of almost 900 respondents were thinking twice about travelling to Majorca for a holiday.
Local tourist bosses are concerned about the economic impact of a drop in visitor numbers, arguing that demonstrators are “playing with fire“, the Majorca Daily Bulletin reports. They have been warned “be careful what you wish for.”
Britain is the second biggest tourist market for Majorca after Germany, but both send a large chunk of the 11 million visitors who stay on the island each year.
In recent weeks The Mirror has been inundated with readers getting in touch to say they’ve been put off travelling to Spain because of the protests, which have seen huge crowds of protesters take to the streets calling for change across the country.
Have you been impacted by the protests? Email webtravel@reachplc.com or comment below.
“I have decided to take my holidays elsewhere, somewhere the locals want tourists and the benefits they bring to the local economy. There is no point in going where you are not wanted, there are plenty of other places to visit in Europe and around the world. See how they manage without tourism,” one Brit wrote to us.
Another holidaymaker added: “We have and will be avoiding ALL of Spain, including the Canaries and Balearics, until Spain clarifies their overall policy regarding tourism. We holiday abroad three times a year and will not be going to destinations where Brits are unwelcome.
“If the Spanish want to trash their main sources of income, that’s up to them. I think they are targeting the wrong area i.e. the tourist. The Spanish need to ensure their Government gets the balance right by welcoming tourism, getting tougher on bad behaviour by tourists and providing homes for their tourist industry workers.”
A third wrote: “Protests have put me off. My family and I will go to another country for our next holiday. We want a relaxing time and their protests only cause anxiety.”
Some resorts have reported an “unusually quiet” atmosphere this year for the season, despite half term in parts of the UK taking place last week.
Majorca is just one of the locations in Spain which has been hit by significant over-tourism protests in recent weeks and months, as locals push back against rising rents and what they see as too many people visiting their communities.
Last week calls for peace were made after protesters announced plans for a summer-long blockade of Palma Airport in Majorca.
During a parliamentary meeting, the Balearic Islands’ Minister of Tourism, Jaume Bauzà , asked for protests to be peaceful and warned that blocking an airport is classified as a crime following threats to bring the travel hub to a grinding halt.
Whether or not the campaigners could achieve such an ambitious action may be in doubt after plans to ‘take over’ a beach fell slightly flat this weekend, with just 50 protesters hitting the sands.
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