A popular Spanish holiday destination adored by UK tourists was reportedly ‘half empty’ over summer, sparking worry among local bar and restaurant owners. Magaluf, one of Majorca’s busiest holiday resorts, is usually teeming with holidaymakers by the start of June.
However, photos showed deserted sunbeds on the town’s beaches and rows of unoccupied tables outside bars. This comes shortly after demonstrators marched through Majorca’s capital, Palma, demanding ‘immediate measures’ to address the island’s housing crisis and tourist overcrowding, reports Birmingham Live.
The local newspaper, Majorca Daily Bulletin, voiced concerns that Magaluf seemed ‘unusually quiet’ on Monday, suggesting it was ‘half empty if that’. It highlighted some unease among business owners about the lack of tourists, while others maintained it was still bustling at the weekends.
One pub owner hinted that anti-tourism protesters’ ‘wishes had been granted’, with the onset of the peak holiday season in June just around the corner. Following a large gathering in Palma on Saturday, the organisers of the protest cautioned that they would persist in their demonstrations until the Balearic government takes action.
One of the protest organisers, Javier Barbero, spoke to the media, saying: “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.”
Join the Daily Record’s WhatsApp community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages.
He clarified that the group isn’t against tourism per se, but insisted: “We have to rethink the tourism model.”
The protesters are urging the local government to cap soaring rental prices, a move Balearic president Marga Prohens has refused to consider. They’re also pushing for a new regulation requiring property buyers in Majorca to have resided in the region for at least five years before making a purchase.
Tourism is vital for the islands, accounting for 45% of income as per Exceltur figures. The ongoing protests have led some British tourists to consider boycotting the destination, with one regular visitor commenting online: “They should be careful what they wish for.”
Another added: “Stop going to Spain for 12 months and they will be begging us to come back.”
Don’t miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond – Sign up to our daily newsletter here.