Brit tourists in Majorca now being sent to ‘dangerous' FAKE BEACHES as protesters ramp-up war on holidaymakers

Scottish Sun

11 hours ago

BRITISH holidaymakers in Majorca are now being sent to "dangerous" fake beaches as the war on tourists intensifies.
The "dirty" scam comes as anti-tourism protests ramp up across the country, with raging locals swarming restaurants and occupying beaches.
7
Residents across Europe have protested with signs bearing slogans like 'As you come I have to go'
Credit: Reuters
7
Widespread anti-tourism protests have erupted across Spain in the last year
Credit: Reuters
7
Police officers have been deployed to manage the protests
Credit: AP
7
One protester was recently caught wielding an axe, while others jeered "Tourists go Home".
But now, one resident has revealed a new, more insidious tactic being deployed by locals to keep tourists out.
Explaining the trick in a video posted online, she said locals are making up names for "secret" coves that are actually "dangerous" parts of the city located miles away from the coast.
The strategy, she said, consists of inventing locations that resemble real areas to trick tourists away from popular beaches.
She warned: "These are not beaches, they are dangerous places that you should avoid.
"If you want to avoid getting scammed, look up the location online before you go.
"If you find a lot of information, it's a real beach. If not, avoid going."
Some have justified the practice as a means of protecting the island's natural areas and have accused the woman of "discrediting her own land".
While others have called the trick "dirty" and argue mass tourism is a systemic problem which needs to be resolved by those in power.
The scam comes just a year after locals reportedly put up fake closure signs around beaches and roads to prevent tourists from entering.
The separately organised protests, which took place more than 850 miles apart, showed the depth and breadth of the campaigns targeting tourists.
A protest group called Caterva was behind the fake beach closures in Manacor in eastern Majorca.
The fed-up group put up red tape and signs at several coves saying "Beach Closed".
They included the secluded white-sand cove Cala Varques and a "hidden" cove renowned for snorkelling called Cala Petita.
Caterva said in a post on X, formerly Twitter: 'New action by Caterva in Manacor. We closed coves for residents' use and rest. Let's change course and prioritise life.
"We believe the tourist is part of the machinery and has responsibility for the situation we suffer."
'But the main people responsible are those who own the hotel chains and construction companies and real estate firms.
'They're the ones we should be pointing our fingers at.'
It also follows last week's announcement by protest movement, the Majorca Platja Tour, of a planned "beach occupation" later this summer.
Brits vow to defy anti-tourism zealots after 1000s of sunbeds across Majorca were scrapped
The group said: "Prepare your towels, umbrellas and banners because we will be making a new symbolic occupation on a beach in Mallorca,"
Anti-tourist demonstrators have already barricaded a beach in Ibiza with boulders.
Pere Joan is the spokesperson and organiser for Menys Turisme Més Vida - meaning "Less Tourism, More Life".
He previously told the Mirror: "We hope to do the same and occupy the beaches in places that have a mass of tourists."
Last year, MTMV massed together up to 40,000 people to stick it to the tourists.
The campaigner said: "We are demanding from local government to put restrictions on outsiders buying housing. We want taxes on empty houses.
"We want control of illegal Airbnbs. One of our demands is to decrease the number of planes that come to Majorca."
They claimed that Brits are the source of their "serious" problems, damaging "quality of life" and fuelling environmental degradation.
Pere explained why he felt tourism was at the root of the issue.
He said: "The demands of mass tourism mean the consumption of water, energy, food and land, something which limits Majorca.
7
A closure sign put up to discourage tourists
7
People march during a protest against overtourism in the Balearic island of Mallorca
Credit: AP
7
This fake sign was seen in a bid to prevent crowded beaches
Credit: Solarpix
"The other problem is the housing. The prices have increased so much. Many local people leave the city and go to some towns that are cheaper to live and rent."
Several protest groups penned an open letter setting out their grievances.
The letter read: "ENOUGH! STAY HOME! We do not need more tourists; in fact, you are the source of our problem.
"DO NOT COME."
It said the problems have been made worse by "greed and avarice" of hoteliers, politicians, real estate investors, and "parasites' of all kinds".
But Brits have pushed back - pointing out that the local economy depends on income from the tourism that is being attacked.
One Brit who has owned a holiday villa on Mallorca for over 30 years wrote to Majorca Daily Bulletin: "It's sad British people are no longer welcome, even though over the years we've ploughed a lot into the island's economy.
"The inhabitants there ought to stop and think what will happen to their economy when people like us stop going?