The Balearic Islands have been warned action from UK tourists has already started – in the wake of protests and demonstrations sweeping the European Union holiday destinations. Menorca, Majorca and Ibiza have suffered a drop in tourism in the wake of the anti-tourism sentiment.
The latest monthly tourism figures show a 2.4 per cent increase in Balearic tourist numbers in September – to 2,495,870 from 2,437,407 in September 2023. The UK and Spain both registered decreases for the third month in a row, though.
The British market registered a 8.1 per cent fall to 530,570, while the Spanish market dropped 7.4 per cent to 348,184. It comes after 20,000 protesters have hit the streets of the Majorcan capital Palma in a huge demonstration against mass tourism this summer.
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“Your luxury, our misery,” read one placard. Another placard said: “This isn’t tourismophobia, it’s numbers: 1,232,014 residents, 18 million tourists.” The protests were called by some 80 organisations and social groups who want limits to be placed on excessive tourism in the Balearic Islands, whose main three islands are Majorca, Menorca and Ibiza.
Last year, a record 17.8 million people visited the Balearic Islands, both from mainland Spain and abroad. The number of visitors is expected to be even higher this year. “From a practical point of view, it is a legitimate economic activity. But as an economic activity, it should ultimately be regulated in the same way as hotels,” said architect and urban planning expert Jose Maria Ezquiaga, who told TVE public television he believes tourist rental flats should require the approval of local residents’ associations.
“It should be local property owners who set the rules of the game and decide whether or not certain formats are acceptable,” he said. Manuel de la Calle, an expert in the field of tourism and business, said imposing a tourist tax could be part of the solution.
“It is one of the possible solutions that could be put in place. It will not reduce the flow of tourism, but it will generate resources that can be driven into tourism management or other avenues to help the local population,” he told TVE.
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