Spanish officials have admitted that a relentless campaign of anti-tourist protests in Majorca is ‘scaring away visitors’ – with locals claiming some resorts are now ‘completely dead’.
A slump in spending in Majorca this summer has been blamed on the wave of anti-tourism protests that have gripped Spain.
With British holidaymakers seemingly among foreigners turning their backs on the island, its tourism industry is in panic mode as officials overseeing the nightlife sector and tour companies warn that guests no longer feel ‘welcomed’.
The restaurant association president, Juanmi Ferrer, gave a stark warning that the messaging of the protests is ‘scaring visitors away’.
Additionally, Miguel Pérez-Marsá, head of the nightlife association, told Majorca Daily Bulletin: ‘The tourists we’re interested in are being driven away; they don’t feel welcome and are going to other destinations.’
Local media reports that the situation has become so dire that some managers have given staff holidays in the middle of July, which is often the height of the summer rush.
But it’s not just bars, restaurants, and nightlife venues feeling the slump.
Tour guides are seeing the same downward trend. Pedro Oliver, president of the College of Tour Guides, said: ‘The anti-tourism messages are resonating.’
Bars, restaurants, and shops have been left abandoned as tourists shy away from tourist destinations that protested against holidaymakers
The restaurant association president, Juanmi Ferrer, gave a stark warning that the messaging of the protests is ‘scaring visitors away’.
Majorca’s beaches, often filled with tourists has seen fewer people than usual
A wave of anti-tourism protests have now been blamed for scaring off visitors
He revealed excursion sales have dropped by 20 per cent this summer, with Valldemossa, Palma and Port Soller among the worst-hit areas as British, German, and Italian tourists have all been put off.
‘If you generate negative news, which has repercussions in other countries, tourists opt for other destinations when choosing their holidays,’ he said. ‘We are sending the message that we don’t want tourists and that everything is too crowded.
Excursion operator Proguies Turístics normally offers around 30 excursions per cruise. That number is now down to just 12 to 14.
Its president, Biel Rosales, warned: ‘Tourismphobia and the idea that tourists are not welcome are hurting us greatly.’ He added that high prices and traffic jams are also turning tourists away.
Transport bosses are also worried. Rafel Roig, president of the transport federation, said: ‘You can’t send out these messages because people won’t go where they’re not wanted.’
Coach firms and taxi drivers have both seen a decline in customers.
Biel Moragues, from one of the island’s taxi associations, said: ‘British tourists are the most upset by the protests and have changed their holiday destination.’
Locals now say tourism on the island is completely different from years gone by.
Business owners have bitterly complained about how the protests have affected their sales
Protestors marched on the streets and told tourists to ‘go home’
Lesley Jones says British tourists have all gone home and adds that it’s now ‘completely dead’
Locals in the area say they have seen fewer Brits on the island in recent times
Lesley Johnson, 66, from Leicester, who has lived on the island for more than 30 years, told Mail Online: ‘This area used to have a lot of British bars and pubs, and they would hold quiz leagues and dance leagues.
‘Back then, if you went along this street at 7pm at night, you couldn’t walk up, it would be full of tourists, but now it’s completely dead. A lot of the Germans and Brits – they’ve just gone home.’
Barbara Mellor, a British citizen who moved to Majorca in 2004, also said: ‘We’ve certainly found that the number of Brits has dropped.
‘You get your busy day here and there, but then the next day or a few days, it goes quiet.’
It marks a shift in tone from earlier this season, when businesses had been blaming falling tourist budgets for the disappointing figures.
Now, many say it’s the hostility towards holidaymakers that is making the situation worse.
Earlier in the year, angry protesters took to the streets holding up signs warning tourists to ‘go home’.
Protestors set off smoke and even fired water pistols at holidaymakers during the protests
Some business owners say the anti-tourism messaging has ‘resonated’ with holidaymakers
Bars and restaurants that would have been typically packed with customers now lay deserted
The admission marks a shift in tone from earlier this season, when businesses had been blaming falling tourist budgets for the disappointing figures
Some are said to have even fired water pistols at tourists.
Others surrounded holidaymakers, shouting at them to leave the country.
But not everyone agrees that the backlash against tourism is to blame.
Jordi Mora, president of the Federation of Small and Medium Enterprises of Majorca (PIMEM), rejected claims there had been a real drop in visitor numbers and dismissed suggestions the protests were scaring people away.
He said: ‘The latest PIMEM report pointed to five per cent growth compared to 12 per cent last year, and that reflected demand which was reaching a limit.’
Official figures for July tourism will not be released until September, while June’s data is expected in the next few days.
There was a 1.6 per cent dip in visitor numbers in May.
Pedro Oliver, president of the College of Tour Guides said Spain has sent a message that tourists are no longer welcome
Majorca recorded a dip in visitor numbers last May – figures for July will be published in September
It’s not just restaurants and bars that are empty – shops are also seeing less customers
