Latest news with #MallorcaPlatjaTour
The Irish Sun
6 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Spain holiday latest as locals blast ‘outrageous' prices and cancel trips amid chilling ‘tourist go home' protest fury
SPAIN is a firm favourite for Irish holidayers chasing the sunshine - but soaring prices and overcrowding have blocked locals from enjoying their own country. Furious locals have been forced to cancel their own staycations as an unprecedented tourist boom sees millions flock to 4 Members of the Mallorca Platja Tour association demonstrate against overtourism in Palma Credit:4 Spaniards blame tourists for the spiralling cost of living crisis Credit: REUTERS/Francisco Ubilla And anti-tourism exacerbated by mass tourism. Thousands have Visitors were blocked from popular beaches and tourist attractions, Chilling READ MORE IN TRAVEL Tourists were even Jet2 chief Steve Heapy said: "Protesters are becoming increasingly vocal, and that's making some people question whether now is the right time to go." And tourists have taken to One person said: "A holiday is a time of relaxation, time with the family, having to worry about the locals reaction and protest would spoil your enjoyment." MOST READ ON THE IRISH SUN Another added: "We had a holiday booked to Spain storm and hail warning as 100mm of rain falls in an hour at tourist hotspot But Spain still remains the most popular holiday destination for Irish people with over 2.5 million visits made each year. And Spain's top 25 Mediterranean and Atlantic coast destinations saw local tourism drop by 800,000 last year whilst foreign visitors rose by a whopping 1.94 million. Speaking to Reuters, 26-year-old Spaniard Wendy Davis blasted the "outrageous" prices of holidaying in her own country. Hotel prices have rises 23 per cent in the past years to an average of €136 a night whilst beachfront rentals have climbed 20.3 per cent in two years. Wendy cancelled a trip to the south coast for a cheaper visit to inland Spain this summer. Wendy said: "The whole Spanish coast is very expensive. Now you don't go on holiday wherever you want, but wherever you can." LESSER-KNOWN SPOTS Many Spanish locals are now flocking to lesser-known destinations inland. Tecnitasa Group President Jose Maria Basanez said: "It is becoming increasingly difficult for Spanish holidaymakers to afford beachfront tourism rentals." Last month, anti-tourism campaigners were heard yelling out "tourism is terrorism" and "tourists go home" as Balearic Islands Government vice-president Antoni Costa said their behaviour had been 'unacceptable.' Claiming hundreds of thousands of local jobs would be lost if politicians pandered to the wishes of activists calling for 'tourist degrowth,' he added: 'Abandoning tourism would be madness. "We're a tourist economy and we're proud to be so. 'I think people are deluding themselves if they think that in the Balearic Islands it's possible to do mostly other things than tourism. 'What guarantees the future of tourism is to taking into account the social and environmental sustainability factor. Looking the other way is not the right way to go. 'We must implement policies that allow us to move from an economy that basically grows in volume to an economy that grows in value.' 4 Acitivists stopped a tourist bus with water pistols in Barcelona earlier this year Credit: REUTERS/Bruna Casas 4 Spain locals can no longer afford coastal holidays in their own country Credit: Alamy Stock Photo
Daily Mirror
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
Tourists could be banned from Spanish beaches locals say are now 'theme parks'
Majorca Platja Tour has announced plans for protests targeting beaches in Spain, warning that some seaside areas have become like 'theme parks' due to the crowds Brits heading for Majorca this summer face being "confined" to beaches as protesters call for resident-only spots. Majorca Platja Tour has announced the first "symbolic occupation" of a beach in Spain this summer, in a bid to preserve the area's most beautiful coastal destinations from being overrun by tourists. "Prepare your towels, umbrellas and banners, because we will be making a new symbolic occupation on a beach in Majorca," announced the movement. A date for the protest has not been announced. The protests will echo those of last summer, carried out at Platja de Palma—one of the best beaches in the capital—and Caló des Moro, a stunning beach located in the southeast of Majorca, featuring 40 metres of fine-grained sand surrounded by cliffs. The protesters say beaches in Majorca are so packed with tourists that locals avoid them in the summer. They want holidaymakers either banned from certain beaches or for areas to be designated for local residents only, not tourists. The movement demands that the citizens of the islands be able to enjoy the beaches in summer—a situation that, according to critics, is currently impossible because the beaches are overcrowded. "What used to be a corner of peace becomes a theme park," they claim. They say the beach at Platja de Palma is a prime example: "There is no area that better represents the overcrowded Majorca than this one." The campaigners are calling for a census or registry to be introduced so that only certain people can access beaches at certain times. Mallorca Platja Tour has called on neighbourhood, cultural, and environmental associations—as well as political parties "committed to Mallorca"—to join the initiative. "There is nothing more Majorcan than spending a day on the beaches," they said in a statement. The group highlighted the Municipality of Ameglia in North East Italy, where 60% of the beaches are kept for local residents. Ameglia Emanuele Cadeddu, despite mayor of the Italian region, said in 2020: "We do not want to give up tourism, which is the basis of our economic fabric. Doing so would mean closing or putting in difficulty the countless activities present in our area, but we expect maximum respect for the rules both from our fellow citizens, to whom we will reserve and guarantee an adequate number of spaces in the amount of 60 percent of the beaches, and from the tourists who will arrive in the Ameglia area'. READ MORE: Hotel insider's warning as she explains why you should never use free toiletries Road routes to many beaches in Majorca are frequently clogged with traffic during the high season, with hundreds of cars parked on sandbanks. Majorca is in the grip of mass tourism protests, with large crowds of placard-wearing campaigners taking to the streets earlier this month. The Balearic Islands have received more than 4.3 million international passengers between January and May of this year, representing an increase of 4.8% compared to the same period last year, according to data published on Wednesday by Turespaña. Bookings have slumped in parts of Majorca in recent months. The Alcudia and Can Picafort hoteliers association has sounded the alarm that bookings on the island are down on last year, especially among travellers from Germany, their principal markets. Bar and restaurant takings were down by between 15 and 20 percent compared to last year, which is a significant blow for an industry already struggling. The president of the Association, Pablo Riera-Marsa, said: "We are seeing how the German market, traditionally our number one market, is the one that has slowed down the most. In addition, we are detecting that this season, last-minute bookings are once again becoming more popular, with tourists waiting for special offers and promotions before making their purchase decisions."
The Irish Sun
04-06-2025
- Business
- The Irish Sun
Exact date of next Spain anti-tourism protests across 10 cities in WEEKS after ‘prepare to adjust plans' alert for Irish
IRISH tourists chasing the sun in Spain this month could face fresh holiday hell as thousands of protestors prepare to take to the streets. Despite demonstrators' Advertisement 6 Thousands protested against mass tourism in Tenerife last month Credit: Getty Images 6 A member of the Mallorca Platja Tour association demonstrating against tourist saturation in Majorca last summer Credit: Getty Images 6 Over 3,000 took to the streets of Barcelona and urged tourists to 'go home' last summer Credit: Getty Images And with Representatives of 60 groups in The demonstration will be led by campaign group 'Menys Turisme, Mes Vida' , meaning 'Less tourism, more life'. The group claims everyday life of locals is "unbearable" due to the Advertisement READ MORE IN TRAVEL Jaume Pujol, a spokesman for the group, said: "We stand for the right to a dignified life and to demand an end to touristification". Palma, Majorca's capital, is expected to be just one of many cities across Spain that will be brought to a standstill on June 15. The demonstration in Palma will be held simultaneously with similar marches in Some cities in Advertisement MOST READ ON THE IRISH SUN The cities plan to mobilise under a common slogan - but each city and region will decide how to organise their actions. Anti-tourist mob attacks holidaymakers with water guns as they vow Spain faces 'long hot summer' of protest carnage Unions have But Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs has A spokesperson said: "Public gatherings and demonstrations can at times take place with little or no warning. Advertisement "We recommend that you stay clear of demonstrations and follow the advice of the local authorities. "Protests may cause disruption to transport and other services. Be prepared to adjust your travel plans at short notice if necessary, and allow yourself extra time for your journey. "You should also check for travel updates or transport delays before and during your trip to Spain." 'STAY HOME' DEMAND Spain's of the year kicked off in April after thousands of people across 40 cities . Advertisement Overcrowding has been cited as the A uthorities have been to keep both tourists and locals happy , including Marchers in Madrid last month chanted "Get Airbnb out of our neighborhoods" and held up signs against short-term rentals. In April, angry protestors in Majorca Advertisement But locals also said overtourism reduces their quality of life, increases the cost of living and brings in cheap, "low-quality" tourists who don't contribute to the local economy. An The letter read: "ENOUGH! STAY HOME! We do not need more tourists; in fact, you are the source of our problem. DO NOT COME." In 2024, a record-breaking 94 million international tourists visited Spain, making it the second most visited country in the world behind France. Advertisement INDUSTRIAL ACTION Meanwhile, bar staff in Tenerife are summer - and bosses have warned the strikes could start as early as July. The unions, Sindicalistas de Base and UGT, have issued bosses with an ultimatum, warning of a major walk out if they are not granted a 6.5 per cent salary bump. They have made it clear that no further negotiations will happen if these conditions are not met. The backlash follows a 170,000-strong Advertisement Locals slammed low wages and poor working conditions in the booming holiday industry. In June last year, beach workers also walked off the job over what unions called "precarious" conditions. 6 Tourists watch on as locals demonstrate again mass tourism in Gran Canaria last month Credit: REUTERS/Borja Suarez 6 Protesters shouted slogans in front of a line of police as they last summer called for the protection of terraces of restaurants most frequented by tourists Credit: LightRocket via Getty Images Advertisement 6 Thousands protested against mass tourism in Mallorca under the slogan 'Let's say basta!' Credit: LightRocket via Getty Images
The Irish Sun
14-05-2025
- The Irish Sun
Majorca issues 4-word message to Irish tourists as thousands plot new protests in weeks after chilling ‘go home' warning
ANTI-TOURIST protestors have vowed to ramp up their campaign across Spain this summer - with fears growing that holidaymakers will be targeted. But Majorca has issued an open letter to tourists amid concerns that travellers will be put off from visiting the sun-soaked island. Advertisement 4 Locals at a demonstration against mass tourism in Majorca last year Credit: Alamy Live News 4 A member of the Mallorca Platja Tour association demonstrates against the tourist saturation on the beach of Palma de Mallorca Credit: Getty Images Thousands are expected to rally against overtourism at new protests scheduled across over a dozen Spanish cities on June 15 - the height of the summer holiday season. It is understood that some - potentially causing flight chaos - and blockade buses carrying tourists. And, after holidaymakers were Hostile messages against foreigners and tourists written on public walls have been on the rise - sparking fears that anti-tourist movements could become more hateful. Advertisement READ MORE IN TRAVEL Overcrowding has become the main problem in many sunny destinations, with authorities trying to find a solution to keep both tourists and locals happy. In an open letter to tourists who normally flock to the Balearic Island in the Mediterranean, the Majorcan tourist board said negative impacts of mass tourism must be "addressed collectively". But the bosses warned that the tourism sector as whole should not be demonised. The letter said: "Tourism has been, and continues to be, Mallorca's main economic driver and the reason why the island has become one of the most prosperous regions in the country, achieving near full employment. Advertisement Most read in News Travel "No activity is without impact, and any negative effects must be addressed collectively—yet without demonising the sector as a whole. Majorca Reacts to Shocking Anti-Tourist Graffiti "Public institutions, businesses, residents, and visitors all have a role to play in this effort. "The Fomento [tourist board] will continue working towards improving our island for the benefit of both residents and visitors, striving for a harmonious coexistence. "Finally, we wish our visitors a pleasant stay and hope they will want to return and repeat their experience." Advertisement The letter finished with a four-word message for tourists who planned to visit the island on their holidays in the future. It said: "Our enduring message remains: a tourist, a friend". An anti-tourism protest already took place on the island of Majorca last month, with locals taking to the streets to call for a reform to the holiday-driven property market. And after 2024, foreign holidaymakers received so much abuse in Majorca that organisers even had to apologise. Advertisement At the event, protestors held up signs demanding "tourists go home" and "you are not wanted". WHAT ARE SPAIN'S ANTI-TOURIST PROTESTS? IN April 2024, residents across Spain began protesting against overtourism. Since then, large protests have taken place across the country, especially in tourist areas like the Balearics and Canaries, and cities like Barcelona and Málaga. In April 2024, between 20,000 and 50,000 people reportedly protested in the Canary islands. By July, around 50,000 took to the streets in Palma de Mallorca. Locals say overtourism has reduced their quality of life, increased the cost of living and brought in cheap, "low-quality" tourists who do not contribute to the local economy. But critics argue that the protests and their messages could be considered 'tourismphobia' - an 'aversion or rejection of tourism'. Anti-tourism movements have been gaining traction not just in Spain, but across Europe in countries like Italy and Greece. In response, measures have been implemented across Europe to curb mass tourism. In March, a coalition of anti-tourism groups wrote an open letter telling how locals are "angry", adding that tourists are "the source of our problem. It said: "The greed and avarice of hoteliers, politicians, real estate investors, and 'parasites' of all kinds' have led to the deterioration of the island territory and ecosystem, infrastructure problems, overcrowded public services, gentrification, and the decline in quality of life. These are all the result of uncontrolled tourism. NEW PROTEST LOCATIONS "Mallorca is not the paradise they are selling you. The local population is angry, and we are no longer hospitable because the land we love is being destroyed, and many residents are having to emigrate. Advertisement "It's time to take a step forward. Our leaders aren't listening to us; it's time to ask you NOT TO COME. "We don't need more tourists; in fact, you are the source of our problem." Protests will take place across both 's mainland and its islands, such as , , , and Advertisement The cities 4 There has been a growing amount of anti-tourist graffiti in Majorca Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd 4 Members of the Mallorca Platja Tour association with a banner that says 'let's occupy our beaches!' Credit: Getty Images
