Myself, my husband and our children and now grandchildren have been holidaying in Majorca for over 20 years and have always loved the island. Through the online Daily Bulletin we have been very saddened by the anti tourism demonstrations we have read about.
Although there are many parts of the island that we like we do tend to be drawn back to the Portixol/Molinar district. Indeed we have stayed at The Portixol Hotel on so many occasions we now think of many of the staff as friends.
How upsetting it was then that last weekend during one of our visits to the hotel our daughter (who calls Majorca her spiritual home) and her husband were stopped by a female in a car near the Portixol Hotel. The driver asked where our daughter and son in law were from. When they answered the UK she shouted at them “Tourists go home” and drove off at speed.
This was extremely distressing. Our daughter is pregnant and had been so excited that her baby was on its 'first visit to Majorca' with many more to come after the birth and as it grows up.
Although I accept the issue of high rents and housing shortages for local people it should also be pointed out that visits such as ours help to boost the economy and employment.
I am afraid that after returning home and reflecting on the event and with very heavy hearts we feel inclined to find a new destination to visit in the future. We no longer feel welcome on the beautiful island of Majorca.
RedbaronWell, by far, Brits are the most famous for that.
Richard, for example, doesn't even attempt to hide it. In fact, he feels "entitled" to live here completely without having to register or pay tax or other costs ... totally under the radar ... as a "benefit" of birthright.
It does beg the question of whether his "entitlement" is a "benefits street" thing, another uniquely British phenomenon, which he ironically rails against and accuses everybody else of (e.g., "foreigners", aka "commies").
CompoThere is a small contingent of anti-tourism protestors who have yet to exhibit any violence or other unsavoury behaviours, but the British tabloids press has exaggerated it far beyond anything resembling the reality of it, making it appears "dangerous", and have consistently framed it as specifically aimed at "Brits", which of course has precious little to do with the overall tourism landscape here and the protestors could care less, and as a rather minor part of tourism here and largely limited to the handful of British resorts, Brits are probably amongst the least likely to be affected by any actual form of "danger", if it even exists in the first place (and so far, there's no evidence of any of that).
But that's just the effect of British tabloid insularity and the need for reassurance that Britain in is the most important. It's just what Brits are "led to believe", even if there's not a speck of evidence to support it.
Maybe the tourist are not so much at fault, there are so many retired Europeans living here without been registered as they don't want to pay taxes on their income (pension)
Im sorry, but if that causes distess to the point of no return ( literally) , then please forward where you live. Such an idyllic place would, perhaps be an ideal , safe ,adventure for travelling Mallorquins.
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RedbaronWell, by far, Brits are the most famous for that. Richard, for example, doesn't even attempt to hide it. In fact, he feels "entitled" to live here completely without having to register or pay tax or other costs ... totally under the radar ... as a "benefit" of birthright. It does beg the question of whether his "entitlement" is a "benefits street" thing, another uniquely British phenomenon, which he ironically rails against and accuses everybody else of (e.g., "foreigners", aka "commies").
CompoThere is a small contingent of anti-tourism protestors who have yet to exhibit any violence or other unsavoury behaviours, but the British tabloids press has exaggerated it far beyond anything resembling the reality of it, making it appears "dangerous", and have consistently framed it as specifically aimed at "Brits", which of course has precious little to do with the overall tourism landscape here and the protestors could care less, and as a rather minor part of tourism here and largely limited to the handful of British resorts, Brits are probably amongst the least likely to be affected by any actual form of "danger", if it even exists in the first place (and so far, there's no evidence of any of that). But that's just the effect of British tabloid insularity and the need for reassurance that Britain in is the most important. It's just what Brits are "led to believe", even if there's not a speck of evidence to support it.
Well at least that is 2 down. :-)
Hang on a minute, I thought (according to certain posters on here) that the anti tourism thing was made up by the British press?
Yeah, every time somebody says something not nice, it's rational to just leave and never come back.
Maybe the tourist are not so much at fault, there are so many retired Europeans living here without been registered as they don't want to pay taxes on their income (pension)
Im sorry, but if that causes distess to the point of no return ( literally) , then please forward where you live. Such an idyllic place would, perhaps be an ideal , safe ,adventure for travelling Mallorquins.