Despite a slew of anti-tourist protests and vows to unleash ‘misery’ on Brits this summer, bookings to EU hotspots such as Spain and Greece are on the rise, the Mirror can exclusively reveal
Two major EU hotspots that have been embroiled in anti-tourist rows have been dealt a huge blow. Last year, Spain witnessed a record-breaking 93.8 million visitors flock to its mainland and slew of postcard-worthy islands.
The staggering influx resulted in a slew of protests from fed-up locals, who claim they’ve been priced out of the property market due to soaring demand for short-term holiday rentals. Armed with banners demanding Brits ‘go home’, residents also called for drastic change to preserve environmental sites being pushed to a ‘critical tipping point’ due to overwhelming visitor numbers.
The furore has already resulted in swathes of new rules in the country. New fees are slated to be imposed on holidaymakers wanting to visit Tenerife’s Teide National Park starting next year – and homeowners wanting to rent out their apartments to tourists will now need approval from their neighbours.
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It’s a similarly bleak picture over in Greece, where anti-tourist graffiti has become common place on the streets of hotspots such as Athens. As previously reported, the country has ramped up its tourist tax (to a whopping €15 per night for five-star hotel stays in the peak season) to curb the overwhelming droves of holidaymakers.
However, it seems that all of these measures – no matter how loud – have fallen on deaf ears. Data from PriceLabs, exclusively shared with the Mirror show the country’s hostility towards Brits hasn’t put us off visiting.
In fact, bookings to Tenerife – where protests are slated to take place this weekend (Sunday, May 18) have increased by 12.7 per cent compared to the same period last year. Over in Barcelona, which has been clamping down on rowdy Brits bar-hopping around the city, also saw a 1.9 per cent spike in bookings.
In Greece, the overwhelmed city of Athens has seen bookings soar by 2.1 per cent. However, both Amsterdam and Venice – which have implemented strict tourist taxes – are starting to see the consequences, with bookings slumping by 12.8 per cent and 8.1 per cent respectively.
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“While protests against mass tourism make headlines across Europe, the impact on local markets is far less dramatic than the very real blow that strict regulations have had on cities like Amsterdam and Venice,” Thibault Masson of PriceLabs said. “Across Europe, locals, operators and governments must work together to find a balance for tourism, so that businesses can thrive, culture is preserved and we can all enjoy these beautiful places – sensibly and sustainably – for years to come.”
If you’re put off by the insane crowds in hotspots like Santorini and Barcelona, you can always try visiting destinations that have yet to fall under the tourist limelight. As previously reported, the Greek island of Patmos offers secluded sandy beaches, crystal-clear water and breath-taking history – but attracts just a fraction of tourists compared to nearby islands.
Similarly, Extremadura, located north of Seville in Spain, is desperate for tourists. In fact, they’re currently offering £12.6k (€15,000) for digital nomads to come and work in the region.
Has anti-tourist sentiment put you off from visiting Spain or Greece? Email [email protected] for a chance to share your story