Amid escalating anti-tourist sentiment, planned protests, and bad weather, bookings to some of the most popular Spanish islands appear to have slumped – new data has revealed
The insatiable buzz around Spain seems to be dying down, as holiday bookings take a significant dip. New data published by TravelgateX shows holiday bookings to the Balearics (Ibiza, Majorca, and Menorca) have only grown by 0.7 per cent over the last week compared to the previous period. Still, they’re up by 22.5 per cent compared to the same time last year.
It follows the wrath of Storm Jana, which has drenched the usually sunny hotspot with intense rain and hail. Sunbathing hasn’t even been possible in the reliably warm Canary Islands as of late, following a string of flash floods and thunderstorms. Escalating anti-tourist sentiment and planned protests may also be to blame for the stagnant figures. As previously reported, more and more Brits are opting for holidays in destinations like Turkey – which is welcoming holidaymakers with open arms.
TravelgateX also found the Balearics were only ranked as the fourth most popular destination in Spain over the past week, trumped by the Canary Islands, Andalusia, and Catalonia. Spaniards made up the majority of reservations, accounting for 50.9 per cent of travellers. However, undeterred Brits came second (23.1 per cent), far outnumbering German (3.7 per cent) and American (2.9 per cent) holidaymakers.
Last year, protests erupted across Majorca as swathes of fed-up locals took to the streets, armed with slogans including ‘Let’s change course and set limits on tourism’. Other banners demanded: ‘Your luxury, our misery’, ‘Stop destroying Mallorca’, and ‘This isn’t tourism-phobia, it’s numbers: 1,232,014 residents, 18 million tourists’. Just last month, one of the famous Osborne bulls in Majorca – an iconic Spanish landmark – was targeted by an angry resident, who wrote the words ‘Rich foreign property buyers go to hell’ in vibrant red paint.
More anti-tourist protests are in the works, according to Majorca Daily Bulletin. The local press reports the movement Menys Turisme, Més Vida (less tourism, more life) has called a meeting to ‘regroup and redouble efforts’ ahead of the looming peak tourist season – as it considers ‘intensifying actions’ following a government campaign encouraging even more tourism to the island.
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Despite the clear confrontation, British expat Sandra Laurie reassured tourists that they’re still welcome to Spain, and shouldn’t be put off from visiting. In an exclusive interview with the Mirror, the 38-year-old, who has lived in Costa Del Sol since 2016, argued most of the protests are tied to landlord greed as opposed to holidaymakers.
“This issue does not impact tourism directly, and in fact, Spain relies heavily on visitors to support the economy,” she explained. “Local businesses, restaurants, and shops have built their success on welcoming tourists from all over the world. If you have a trip planned—don’t let the headlines deter you.
The Costa del Sol and other popular destinations are buzzing with life. The beaches are packed, the pueblos are alive with energy, and both locals and tourists are soaking up the sun, relaxing, and making the most of everything Spain has to offer.” You can read her full interview here.
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