A usually bustling Spanish hotspot, popular among tourists, has been described as ‘half empty’, sparking concerns for bar and restaurant owners. Magaluf, typically teeming with holidaymakers at the start of June, was pictured at the end of May with rows of unoccupied sunbeds on its beaches.
Bar owners in the Majorcan town have also reported empty tables outside its usually busy nightspots. As per BirminghamLive, locals recently marched through Palma, the island’s capital, demanding ‘immediate measures’ from the government to address the housing crisis and tourist overcrowding.
The Majorca Daily Bulletin raised concerns about Magaluf being ‘unusually quiet’ on Monday, suggesting it was ‘half empty if that’. It also highlighted worries among business owners regarding the lack of tourists, although some maintained that bars were still bustling over the weekends.
One bar owner implied that the anti-tourism protesters’ ‘wishes had been granted’, with the peak holiday season in June just around the corner. Thousands participated in a demonstration in Palma in May, with organisers vowing to continue their protests until the Balearic government takes action.
Javier Barbero, one of the events organisers, opened up to the press, stating: “This has only just begun. If the reality is denied and still no measures are taken, we will take to the streets until they act.”
He clarified that the protestors arent against tourism entirely, but insisted: “We have to rethink the tourism model.”
Angry protests have erupted as residents call on their local leaders to tackle spiralling rental pricesdemands the Balearic president, Marga Prohens, has flatly refused to address. The contentious issue also includes a push for legislative change, requiring individuals to reside in Majorca for at least five years before they can purchase property on the island.
According to statistics from Exceltur, a staggering 45 per cent of the Balearic Islands’ revenue is derived from its vibrant tourism industry.
A boycott movement is gaining traction among some Brits who frequent the popular destination. One such visitor vented their frustration online, cautioning: “They should be careful what they wish for.”
Another disgruntled tourist highlighted the potential blow to the Spanish town if people listened: “Stop going to Spain for 12 months and they will be begging us to come back.”
The Mirror shed light on the issue in May when it relayed concerns over tourists inflating property values and living costs.
Demonstrators from Mallorca Platja Tour have urged locals to reclaim public beaches in response to remarks from a politician who suggested that residents could no longer expect beach access in high-season July and August, a privilege burdened by the influx of tourists.
In a bold statement against mass tourism, activists took over a beach in Sa Rapita during a later demonstration, while in an earlier protest in Palma, they marched through the central square chanting “Tourists go home”.