Majorca Calls on Tourists to Return: Protests Led to Economic Crisis.

Decrease in Tourist Flows in Majorca Due to Protests

According to The Sun: Restaurant and bar owners in Majorca report that they suffered this summer from a sharp decline in visitors due to protests against tourism at this popular resort.

The Balearic Islands of Spain have experienced a new wave of protests in 2023. They began when a group of activists set up fake danger signs on beaches.

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Now Majorca is asking tourists to return, as local authorities state that the economy is on the verge of collapse. CAEB, the largest employers' organization in the Balearic Islands, hopes that September will help 'save the season' after the situation worsened since May. According to the Association of Temporary Services of Majorca, beach bars, umbrella rental companies, and water entertainment operators suffered an approximately 20% hit in July compared to last summer.

The president of the Apaduma Association, Onofre Fornes, blamed 'irresponsible negative messages against tourism' for the downturn. He noted that restaurants are operating at minimal levels, income from beach bars has significantly dropped, and the occupancy of businesses has also decreased, even in a busy August.

Apaduma is calling on the government to urgently take measures to address economic difficulties, control prices, and reduce the hostility towards tourism in Majorca.

Representatives of the Spanish authorities note that ongoing anti-tourist campaigns 'scare away visitors'. The majority of tourists who are abandoning trips to Majorca are British, which has caused panic among local entrepreneurs who claim that guests no longer feel 'welcome'.

“Under the new laws, we cannot hold happy hours or give out free drinks,' said the manager of the British bar Linekers, Manuel Pozecho.

Business owners are now alarmed: the decline in European tourist flows, who 'do not spend as much', could lead to the closure of bars and restaurants.

Miguel Pérez-Marsa, head of the nightlife association, said: “The tourists we were interested in have moved away; they don't feel welcome and are going to other places.”

This year's protests have caused the most damage with new actions in the Balearic Islands, the Canaries, and mainland Spain.

Leslie Johnson, 66, from Leicester, who has lived on the island for over 30 years, stated: “This area used to have a lot of British bars that hosted quizzes and dance games. Now, if you walk down this street at 7 PM, it will be dead. Many Germans and British have simply gone home.”

This summer, tens of thousands of people passed through Palma de Majorca in July, holding banners with slogans such as “Your luxury, our misery” and calling for a limit on the number of tourists. Last year, the island welcomed a record 15 million tourists, causing a huge uproar: over 50,000 protesters demanded a new economic model to reduce the number of tourists.

The anti-tourism movement has targeted local businesses, putting up stickers saying “tourists, go home”, blocking roads, and erecting fake warning signs on beaches. In Barcelona, protesters used water guns to spray visitors in the city center.

In one of the most striking cases, activists blocked all hotel entrances and clashed with tourists dining in restaurants.

Tensions in Palma peaked when a British tourist was surrounded by angry protesters shouting 'go home and go to hell'. One activist was spotted with an axe in a restaurant, attempting to intimidate tourists, which led to police intervention.

These bold and violent scenes have drawn significant criticism from politicians, but activists continue their fight, driven by years of issues related to overcrowding and rising prices.

Solarpix Alamy Avalon.red Tourism is an important part of Majorca's economy, but the situation indicates that society is beginning to demand a more balanced approach to the services provided. The growing anti-tourism movement may indicate a need to find a balance between the economic benefits of tourism and meeting the needs of local residents. The situation requires urgent efforts from the government and businesses to restore tourist confidence and support the local economy.