WARNING: protests are putting tourists off from coming to Mallorca

IBRescueTeamBritish tourism accounts for roughly 20% of tourism in Spain, slightly less in the Balearics. This 20% is often touted as an overwhelming majority in British tabloids, by comparing to one or another nationality. Sure, when compared to say, Luxembourg, Brits clearly dominate. But there's many more tourists than just Luxembourg or France or Belgium or Germany or Sweden. Combined, the "rest of the world" accounts for about 80%. So, even in the highly unlikely event that some significant number of Brits decide to go to e.g., Greece (to punish Spain for the imaginary "anti-Brit" sentiment also touted in British tabloids), the reality is that the impact would be minimal at best, at least when compared to the big picture. And that explains why those threats aren't taken too seriously. Besides, Brits seem to be the only ones making those threats. Yet they keep coming back. Year after year. Airbnb The largest catalogue of holiday lets on Mallorca is indeed held by Airbnb, well under 5000. And there's a moratorium on any new ones. Has been for years. It's not a growing business here. It's equally convenient to claim this as an overwhelming majority (of available housing). But like the British tourism bit, the reality of the big picture tells a very different story, and simply taking them off the market would also have insignificant impact on overcrowding, property prices, rents or the cost of living vs income equation, but would serve to shift income from local economy to the hotel chains.

Morgan WilliamsI query your assertion Morgan, that the British are only a small number of Mallorca's and by extension Spain's visitors. The highest number of tourists to Spain were from the UK with 17 million in 2023. The British are Spain's highest number of visitors with France coming second with 11 million. Germany supplies the most tourists to Mallorca with 3.9 million, next is the UK with 2.1 million (Stats from Statista). Either way, both countries supply a huge number of tourists and ergo are a huge source of income and wealth for the Balearic Islands. I remember what Ibiza looked like in 1984 and Sa Coma Mallorca back in 1985. It is also undeniable the positive change tourism has brought to Spain and how that wealth has benefitted the country as a whole. I understand over-tourism. The mechanisms to reduce such damage without killing to Goose that lays the golden eggs are known. The problem must be the sheer number of homes that are turned into Airbnb's and not the tourists who use the hotels and complexes for their vacations.

As a British individual who developed a fondness for Mallorca in 1985, it is with a heavy heart that I share we must forego our yearly visit this time. Our granddaughter, eight years of age and with special needs, faces daily challenges yet eagerly anticipates her annual vacation in Spain. Although air travel presents significant difficulties for her, her courage prevails, sustained by the promise of her cherished holiday. Cala d'Or remains our tranquil retreat, a place where she revels in the sea, a pool, and the joy of dining out and playing just like any other child. Though her educational level lags behind her peers, and she faces many challenges, her love for Spain is unwavering. Throughout the winter, she eagerly hones her Spanish, practising phrases and greetings, eagerly awaiting our next visit. We had several incidents last year when the women in our party were accosted by what appeared to be asylum seekers in the resort. Now, the recent protests and marches broadcasted on TV and reported in newspapers have been the final tipping point. The graffiti demanding we leave, the vociferous protests against tourists – it's all quite unwelcoming. Our concern is for our granddaughter, who could find herself in a volatile situation or face someone yelling at her to go away. Such an incident could trigger a severe meltdown, one that typically results in a hospital visit. Given our concerns, we've decided to delay our Spanish holiday for at least a year. Our family, which includes six adults and two children, usually spends around €14,000 for a two-week stay on the island. This budget often affords us quite simple accommodations—nothing like what I'd choose for business travel. However, we've always settled for this during our annual family trip, as our love for the country and its inhabitants surpasses all else. We are not uncouth. I speak Spanish fluently and we immerse ourselves in your culture, cuisine, and lifestyle for a brief period with my children and grandchildren. Unfortunately, the possibility of verbal abuse or worse is a risk too great to take. In the past few years, there's also been the spectre of increasing numbers of men (the same ones plaguing the rest of Europe) in the resorts pestering every woman and girl who passes them. I am not talking of the "lucky men", they were there when we first visited the Balearics. I am talking of men with a Middle Eastern appearance and Africans who stand there looking for a woman to harass or, as we saw last year, distraction thefts stealing ladies' handbags in restaurants. In June last year, my 26-year-old daughter was followed into a gift shop and cornered by one of these men. He kept on touching her hair and trying to stroke her arm. She was so frightened she asked the shop staff to tell a man with a Middle Eastern appearance to leave her alone, or else the police would be called. Neither my wife, daughter or myself have ever felt vulnerable on vacation in Spain as we did last year. In the end, we stopped going to the centre of Cala d'Or because we had to pass these men. They were always hanging around on this one path, cutting through between the two parts of the resort, intimidating the women and girls as they walked past them. The thought of my two grandchildren missing the rich flavours, vibrant sounds, and aromatic scents, along with the delight of speaking their well-rehearsed Spanish phrases, fills me with profound sadness.

Zoltan TeglasI have seen photos showing exactly these banners. Anyway, peace. Again, I do understand the locals their cause.

BogdanThe vast majority of people are not against tourists and the protests aren't aimed at tourists. That's just the gutter press trying to create a scandal.

Morgan WilliamsNo I wasn't referring to you, or anyone in particular.

The protesters would have achieved more if they were more vocal and started the protests right after '23 season, well, at least much earlier than in May 2024, anyway. Many people book their vacation well in advance, and cannot simply give up a few weeks before. As of me, now that I read more about the situation, as much as I would like to avoid contributing to the overcrowding and go with my family elsewhere, I am unable to, because TUI will not refund me just for giving up the travel. I am very sympathetic with the locals, but, as @Morgan Williams and others mentioned before, I think that protesters direct their anger in the wrong direction. There is no global conspiracy of tourists planning to overcrowd the island. Picking at tourists is not entirely fair. Majorca was for years (and still is) advertised as the perfect vacation destination. The protesters could have possibly achieved more if - instead of storming beaches - they stormed and overcrowded "the cabildo" buildings to get local politicians to start thinking about their voters instead of fights with other parties. I do not get the argument that the protests are not against tourists, but against excessive tourism. "Guiris go home" or "Your luxury our misery" (what luxury?) is a clear message and tells otherwise. It will be hard during this year's vacation to get rid of the guilty feeling these protests incited. I will try to choose my vacation destination better next year.

Zoltan TeglasI'm not one if them, if you're referring to me. I'm all in favour of easing any burdens that over-tourism causes. In a responsible way. But I do question how much of this is real, and how much is sensational. I think it's clear that certain areas are suffering, though it's not clear (and i haven't seen much evidence of it) that the vast majority of the island is suffering. In fact, in the past 5 years or so, many places on the island that were previously void of tourism benefit, are now (comfortably) benefitting from it. There's lots of evidence of that. But as even you have exhibited, to even suggest it means that one must be in favour of unlimited tourism growth. But that's not it at all. And .. what the protesters are protesting about actually isn't tourism. It's the cost of living vs. incomes. That's what they're really (and rightfully) angry about. They blame it on tourism, but that's not the cause of it. Unfortunately, there's no simple solution, no political party has a magic wand that will make it go away, and carelessly attacking tourism won't get them what they're looking for either, and very likely just make it worse. So, it's wise to think through what's needed, where the emphasis should be, and how to best manage it, before coming in with a bulldozer and causing reckless damage for misguided anger. There is no perfect solution, but making it worse won't solve it either. And Beachcomber... The only ones that have objected to ETIAS have been the Brits, which only account for a fraction of tourism here. And ETIAS doesn't even apply to the largest segment of tourism, so it won't likely have much impact, if any. And screaming "tourists not welcome" may have some impact, but I doubt it. And even if it does, it still won't solve what they're really angry about, and may even make it worse.

Add to the equation the new entry and exit system due in October (unless it’s postponed yet again) and you have the perfect recipe to discourage tourists and the local economy will nosedive putting loads of residents out of work.

For some reason there are people who think ever increasing numbers of tourists is a good thing. It might be good for the multi national hotel chains, but it's certainly not good for those of us who are stuck in traffic for hours, can't ever visit our favourite beaches, can't go to Palma centre etc. So if tourist numbers decrease by 10% for example, and get back to how they were about 10 years ago, it'll be a good thing. Especially if the 10% we lose are the lowlife German ultras and Illetas thugs who no one wants or needs.