Majorca officials have begged anti-tourism activists to leave British visitors alone in advance of a huge planned takeover of Palma tomorrow night.
The island, as well as other resorts in the Balearics and elsewhere in Spain, have been the scene of angry demonstrations in recent weeks. Protesters claim their presence drives up housing costs, making it harder for locals to find a place to live.
Heads of regional government in Majorca have warned there must be no repeat of Barcelona – where tourists were sprayed with water pistols by demonstrators earlier this month.
Foreign tourists were booed and jeered by some locals as they ate evening meals on terraces in Palma’s Weyler Square during the most recent protest in the Majorcan capital on May 25.
Organisers ended up making a public apology for the abuse they received.
In a clear indication that politicians in the Balearic Islands are concerned tomorrow’s new protest will be marked by further shows of tourism-phobia, they have urged locals to show tourists “respect.”
Antoni Costa, a regional government spokesman, insisted: “There’s no fear because here it hasn’t happened and people have always been respectful.”
However, he added: “We have seen a certain type of behaviour in Barcelona which, as you can imagine, we didn’t like.
“We ask for the upmost respect for those who have decided not to demonstrate and urge those who do protest to do so peacefully and not interrupt other citizens and visitors.”
Spain’s tourism minister condemned protestors who soaked tourists with water pistols during a protest on July 6 in Barcelona city centre.
Jordi Hereu, a former Barcelona mayor, described their actions as reprehensible.
He added: “I want to reaffirm the values of hospitality of Spain and the Spanish tourism model and one of its characteristics, which is security.”
Hoteliers in Spain have admitted the anti-mass tourism protests that have taken place in many parts of Spain since April when thousands took to the streets in the Canary Islands will have left some holidaymakers thinking they are not welcome.
Gabriel Escarrer, President of non-profit group EXCELTUR which is former by the chairmen of the 30 leading Spanish tourist groups, said recently: “It’s the worst thing that could happen.”
Organisers of tomorrow’s protest in Palma are already predicting it will be “historic.”
Originally people in all four of the Balearic Islands including Ibiza and Menorca were going to take to the streets of their respective capitals on the same day before those plans were scrapped in favour of separate but co-ordinated actions over the summer.