More than a hundred protestors took to a much-loved Majorcan beach to vent fury about so-called over-tourism.
Campaigners in Spanish holiday hotspots beloved by British holidaymakers have staged demonstrations against the record number of visitors and the impact on housing and living costs.
The latest “occupy our beaches” protest has been mounted by the Mallorca Platja Tour group.
It attracted around one hundred people to Playa de Palma in the Balneario 6 area of Arenal earlier today.
Two police vans were on guard and a police helicopter flew over the area. However, there were no violent incidents.
This was a larger number than at the first protest in Sa Rapita but less than the 300 or so at a similar protest on Caló des Moro beach.
One of the demonstrators said that the beach had been chosen as Balneario 6 is a symbol of an overcrowded Majorca, reports Majorca Daily Bulletin.
It also has a reputation for drunken tourism.
The protestors are demanding that there is a change in the model of tourism to make it more sustainable and therefore have less of an impact on the environment and improved access to housing for locals.
The protest coincided with the day Gatwick Airport predicted would be the busiest for passengers headed for Spain.
Organisers said they wanted the march to be a “turning point” and a statement and the start of actions and mobilisation on the four islands, not only in Majorca, which will extend beyond the summer.
They warn that the disruptions will continue until the local government takes action to curb tourist access to the islands.
Majorca is cutting the number of tourist beds by 18,000 in a bid to address local concerns, with officials saying coexistence between visitors and residents is “at risk” due to the congestion.
The Balearic Islands are also upping curbs on street drinking and with further restrictions for party boats to discourage rowdy behaviour and noise.
It comes after reports that terrified Brits are ringing their Balearic Islands hotels to confirm that they will be safe to stay there in the wake of the anti-tourism protests that have gripped the country.
According to Majorcan businesses, bookings are being cancelled amid the febrile atmosphere.
Maria Gilbert, manager of one of the islands’ hotels, told Diario de Mallorca that Brits were pulling out of their trips.
Leave a Reply