Majorca is an incredibly popular holiday destination among tourists including Brits, with more than 2.3 million people visiting the island each year.
With this popularity comes overcrowding and congestion on the roads – an issue Majorca is grappling and has blamed on the masses of tourists flocking there.
Local politicians have directly blamed tourists and their hire cars for Majorca’s gridlocked roads, and some have tried to impose limits on rental cars.
It was also a hotly protested issue during the summer, when anti-tourism demonstrations erupted across the island in response to overcrowding and soaring housing costs, issues protesters believe are exacerbated by the tourism industry.
However, damning new evidence has been released that reveals the real reason behind Majorca’s traffic problem, and it’s not tourists.
The new survey by the Council of Mallorca found that 81% of journeys on local roads are actually made by local residents.
Many roads are also gridlocked in winter, when most tourists have left the island for their colder home countries, adding to the evidence that it is in fact locals causing congestion.
The report concluded that local residents own too many cars – the real reason behind their travel misery.
Local residents have also expressed concern over how local authorities will tackle the traffic problem, with environmentalists blocking attempts to build new roads.
This comes after overtourism protests that were mainly concentrated in Palma, the island’s capital, forced British tourists to think twice before visiting.
According to local news outlet the Majorca Daily Bulletin, roughly 44% of people will now think twice before holidaying in Majorca.
The small island’s economy heavily relies on tourism, and so despite the protests, local authorities maintain that British holidaymakers are welcome.