Ibiza and Majorca, famed for their idyllic beaches, buzzing nightlife, and year-round sunshine, are now batting with the downsides of popularity – overtourism is taking its toll. Beaches once spacious and serene are inundated with visitors, frustrating both holidaymakers and the local community.
Lucia Polla, travel guru and founder of Viva La Vita, shared her astonishment about the overwhelming summer crowds: “The beaches on some of the Balearic Islands aren’t great.”
She continued, venting her bewilderment on a past trip to Majorca during the school holidays: “We went to Majorca one August, thinking it would be a little quieter, but boy were we wrong. The beaches were so full you could barely find a spot to lay your towel.”
Not only is relaxation space at a premium, but the tourist influx is squeezing the infrastructure and housing market. As rents soar, locals are priced out, something Wayne Kast, CEO of Always On The Shore, has observed in Palma de Majorca.
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He revealed to the Express, “The narrow streets that once welcomed visitors with open arms are now teeming with complaints.”, reports the Express.
Recalling his conversation with a local, he said, “I remember chatting with a local shop owner there who vented about how the influx has made it impossible for her to find affordable housing.”
The stunning islands are buckling under the weight of overtourism, with the impact resonating beyond just packed beaches and inflated property markets. Public services are straining at the seams in Ibiza and Majorca.
It was back in May when fed-up locals hit the streets of Ibiza, protesting for a limit on the number of tourists. Rafael Jimenez, representing protest group Prou Ibiza, aired his concerns: “A side effect of mass tourism is that house prices are rising.”
He went on to highlight the domino effect, “More restaurants require more workers, but these workers require places to live, and there are ten looking for every place.”
As tourist numbers swell, local workers find themselves outpriced, some resorting to living in caravans or even waving goodbye to island life.
Jimenez himself voted with his feet, relocating to mainland Spain, disheartened by the relentless tide of tourism. He continued bluntly: “We feel that tourism is taking public places. It is very expensive.”
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