As concern around over-tourism continues to spread across Spain, local authorities in the Balearics deployed a rather unusual strategy – which it now admits massively backfired
The Spanish government has suddenly u-turned on a pro-tourism policy following major backlash. Local authorities in the Balearics (which include the postcard-worthy islands of Majorca, Menorca, and Ibiza) had recently revealed plans to alleviate the strain on popular hotspots by making use of selfie-addicted influencers.
The rather unusual strategy pushed those with a huge social media following to start plugging attractions in the Balearics that have failed to enter the tourist limelight. However, it seems the power these Instagram and TikTok pros have should not be undermined, as the plan worked. In fact, it worked too well…
Take Caló des Moro, for example, an incredible bay tucked away in the southeast corner of Majorca. This idyllic slice of paradise feels worlds away from the bustling streets of Magaluf – boasting 40 metres of sugar-like sand, turquoise waters, and rugged cliffs. For years, it remained a true hidden gem, with travellers often being able to enjoy the spot to themselves if they were willing to get there early.
READ MORE: Brits urged to act now as Spain Airbnb crackdown to have ‘severe’ effect
The cove can accommodate around 100 people, before it would start to feel like you’re being sardined next to a stranger on the beach. But, after a slew of influencers started raving about the destination – an insufferable amount of tourists were flocking their en masse.
The Guardian reports that last June, María Pons, the local mayor, held a press conference saying that a whopping 4,000 people and 1,200 vehicles were visiting Caló des Moro every single day. She reportedly begged travel tour operators to not mention the cove again, or offer Brits excursions to the hotspot.
“It’s had the completely opposite effect to what was intended and runs contrary to government policy on containing tourism,” a government spokesperson added. Local authorities have since scrubbed all images of Caló des Moro from their official website, hoping the hype will eventually die down.
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The influencer-driven boom won’t have been well received by fed-up locals, who blame tourists for the country’s worsening housing crisis. In fact, just last weekend – thousands of frustrated residents flocked to the streets to call for major reform, armed with banners ordering Brits to ‘go home’.
As anti-tourist sentiment gets louder and louder – Spain’s crackdowns become harsher, even if it puts Brits out of pocket. Earlier this week, the government sensationally ordered Airbnb to remove more than 65,000 holiday listings from its website – a move that could spike hotel prices and reduce accommodation availability during the upcoming summer.
An estimated 65,935 Airbnb properties will be delisted for breaking strict regulation rules. This could be because owners failed to include their licence number, didn’t specify whether they were running as an individual or a company, or because their listed numbers did not match official records.
Already booked an Airbnb in Spain? You can follow one travel expert’s advice here.
Has rising anti-tourist sentiment put you off from visiting Spain? Email liam.gilliver@reachplc.com for a chance to share your story
