The Soller Valley, on the island of Majorca, has had tourism at the heart of the local economy for decades, with hotels, bars and restaurants providing jobs and drawing in visitors from across the world
Residents of a Spanish town have conceded that their protests against over tourism may have “scared tourists away”, resulting in a sharp drop in visitor numbers.
Soller Valley, nestled on the island of Majorca, has long relied on tourism as a cornerstone of its economy, with hotels, bars, and restaurants providing employment and attracting international visitors. Yet, like many areas in Spain, there’s been an increasing backlash against the impacts of tourism, with locals blaming foreign visitors for escalating property prices, a rise in anti-social behaviour, and pressure on public services.
A series of demonstrations across Spain have seen tourists being told to “go home”, leading some Soller Valley inhabitants to fear that their message has been taken to heart. In other related news, here’s a warning to Brit tourists planning all-inclusive holidays to Spain.
READ MORE: Five things every traveller should know before holidaying in MajorcaREAD MORE: ‘We turned up a year early for our holiday and were stuck in a hotel lobby’
A hotel proprietor confessed to the Majorca Daily Bulletin: “We’ve scared the tourists away. I wouldn’t want to spend my holidays in a place where I don’t feel welcome.”
A waiter at a local eatery dependent on tourist trade remarked on the challenge of drawing visitors in the same numbers as before. They commented: “Except on weekends or rainy days, there’s not much going on here; we’re just waiting around, and it’s been like this since May.”
This sentiment is supported by statistics, with officials from Majorca noting a downturn in tourist figures across the Balearic Islands following a number of significant anti-tourism rallies, reports the Express.
The Mallorca Hotel Business Federation (FEHM) reports that areas like Soller are experiencing significant drops in tourist numbers, whilst the Majorca Daily Bulletin indicates that industry figures from hotels, hospitality and transport have all noted declining visitor numbers.
Pedro Oliver, president of the College of Tour Guides, revealed his excursion bookings have plummeted by 20% this summer, with Valldemossa, Palma, and Port Soller bearing the brunt of the downturn.
He explained: “The anti-tourism messages are resonating. If you generate negative news, which has repercussions in other countries, tourists opt for other destinations when choosing their holidays. We are sending the message that we don’t want tourists and that everything is too crowded.”
READ MORE: Foreign Office issues new rules and key date for anyone entering 29 EU countries
Juanmi Ferrer, head of the Restaurants Association in Mallorca (CAEB), has cautioned that dwindling visitor numbers could force eateries across the island to shut their doors this year.
Certain regions are witnessing customer drops of up to 40%, and in an extraordinary development, restaurants in typically bustling tourist hotspots like Soller are allowing staff to take holidays during what should be the busiest period.
Back in June, around 10,000 demonstrators marched through Palma’s streets demanding an end to the “touristification” of their region. Protesters urged local officials to tackle tourism’s effects more effectively whilst simultaneously telling prospective holidaymakers to find alternative destinations.