Brits are among those who have said they will not go on holidays to places in Spain where they are ‘not wanted’ after anti-tourism protests and resentment has emerged
British holidaymakers are snubbing flights to Majorca and vowing they won’t visit destinations where they feel unwelcome and “not wanted.” As anti-tourism demonstrations and overtourism anger escalates across the Balearic Island hotspot in Spain, Brits have issued stark warnings they’re being deterred.
“Where you’re not wanted, you don’t go,” declared Rafel Roig, president of the Business Federation of Transport. “The anti-tourism messages are scaring visitors away,” warned Juanmi Ferrer, president of Mallorca CAEB Restauración, who revealed turnover in July has plummeted. “This year, hundreds of restaurants in Mallorca will close.”
READ MORE: Brits ‘scared away’ from Majorca as holiday hotspot left ‘completely dead’
Pedro Oliver, president of the Official College of Tourist Guides of the Balearic Islands, agreed that “the anti-tourism messages coming from Mallorca are taking hold”. “Negative news has repercussions in other countries, as tourists choose other destinations when deciding where to go on holiday,” Mr Oliver explained.
“We’re sending out the message that we don’t want tourists and that everything is overcrowded.”
Pimeco president Carolina Domingo revealed that “they are noticing that anti-tourism messages are being felt.” One resident explained: “People don’t seem to realise that, they think they’re anti British protests. And what they’re really protesting about is over development of certain areas, new complexes, sporting complexes, all inclusive everywhere (nobody spending outside), the strain on the already sparse resources, upping their utility bills.
“The ordinary tourist doesn’t think of this (and rightly so, we’re on holiday). And the only way to grab the attention of the top men, they have to target the tourist. It was bound to happen Spain relies on tourists so. they have reaped what they sowed Tourists will not go there to be abused,” another commented.
“Spain are now seeing what it was like before tourism,” another typed. “They chose to – instead of keeping upper to middle income guests. You chose to embrace those who could afford to come there but couldn’t afford to be there. The quality tourists of all nations left long ago.”
Demonstrations have engulfed Majorca and Menorca as well as Ibiza, Lanzarote and Tenerife, reports Birmingham Live. Beyond the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands, British holidaymakers have witnessed growing hostility on the Spanish mainland in cities such as Barcelona.
Go-to destinations for Brits in Spain include the aforementioned resorts alongside Alicante, and capital city Madrid. Other popular cities include Seville, Valencia, Granada and Santander, which fly to Birmingham.