Spanish tourist hotspot hit with slump in bookings as restaurants empty and sales down
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info
Restaurant proprietors in Majorca are facing a crisis due to a slump in tourist bookings, believed to be caused by inflated fees, tightening regulations and growing hostility towards visitors.
The president of the island's restaurant association Restauración CAEB has described the first half of May as "very bad" for the local hospitality industry.
Juanmi Ferrer communicated to the Majorca Daily Bulletin that evening bookings have plummeted by up to 50% in areas popular with tourists, while weekend business has also suffered, witnessing around a 10% decrease compared to the previous year.
This downturn in trade from holidaymakers – who contribute about 45% to the island's economic output – is happening amid enhanced bureaucratic hurdles, fresh impositions and charges, and frequent anti-tourism protests.
An increase in visitor numbers has had adverse effects on Majorca's housing and infrastructure, prompting residents to protest multiple times in the last twelve months, demanding better safeguards against the influx of tourists and second property purchasers.
Holiday-goers visiting the Balearic island at peak times are now also facing an additional nightly fee of £5, courtesy of the regional government's new tourist levy.
Mr Ferrer remarked the month began with acceptable levels of activity on May 1 and May 2, but stated that "the rest of the month has been lamentable", reports the Express.
He expressed little hope for improvement until after May 25, confessing, "We're writing off the month. We didn't expect this start to the season: you have to go back many years to find one this bad."
The hospitality chief noted a worrying slump in business potentially due to poor weather affecting Spain recently, while also conceding that trade appears to be waning, with last year's earnings falling short of 2023's figures.
Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages
Restauración CAEB reported earlier this month on a troubling 20% revenue dip in the first quarter of 2025, echoing a similar fall in June 2024, linked to decreased tourist expenditure.
Mr Ferrer has referred to the hospitality sector as Majorca's "leading economic barometer", cautioning that persistent downturns in trade "will inevitably effect the entire local economy".
Despite concerning signals, tourism in the Balearics hit an all-time high in early 2025, drawing over 800,000 international visitors from January to March, up almost 4% from the previous year.
Mr Ferrer highlighted a troubling trend where visitor numbers are up yet spending is down: "In terms of spending, we are not seeing an increase, but quite the opposite, a decrease," he said. "We have more people spending less, it seems."
Tourists are reportedly being put off by factors including the tourist tax, unfriendly locals, and inflation within Majorca's hospitality trade, as one frustrated Brit lamented about the industry "biting the hand" that feeds it.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Warning issued to anyone with £10,000 in their savings account
New research has found that millions of Brits are missing out on hundreds of pounds in interest by leaving large sums of money sat idle in their current accounts Millions of Brits are losing out on piles of cash annually due to a banking blunder – they're not moving large cash reserves from non-interest paying current accounts. Recent analysis has discovered around 8.3 million UK current accounts with balances over £10,000 are earning zero interest. These dormant accounts collectively hold a whopping £284 billion, a sum that could accrue substantial interest if placed in high-interest savings. The data is brought to light by Spring, the latest savings app incorporating Open Banking tech to sync seamlessly with user's current bank accounts. Spring boasts a 4.30% AER offer, beating typical high street banks' rates. Industry figures used by the app show every eleventh account holds an average of £33,961, and about 1.3 million of these have more than £50,000. Spring is raising the alarm on the 'current account coasters' - those folks who let excess cash sit idly in their accounts instead of transferring to a savvier savings option. Alarmingly, broader industry stats point to 74 million credit-positive current accounts that don't earn a penny in interest, reports the Express. Derek Sprawling, Savings MD at Spring, said: "Cumulatively, nearly £400 billion is held in current account balances in the UK. You would imagine that these would mainly consist of small balances, but our analysis shows that there are a significant number of accounts that contain sizeable funds, accounting for over half of the overall balance. "Most people sensibly maintain a small current account balance to cover emergency costs and everyday expenses, but leaving thousands of pounds in your current account means you will be missing out on hundreds of pounds in interest each year. "With nearly eight million current accounts containing significant balances, that money could work harder in a higher-paying savings account." He further stated: "Many people don't move those funds because they don't want to lose access to it but choosing a savings account that connects to a current account so you can transfer money in seconds and offers unlimited withdrawals, could provide a compelling alternative." Spring's app - available on iOS and Android - allows users to apply within minutes and link their accounts for instant access to savings features, including separate pots and easy withdrawals. It requires no bank switch and promises to help people develop better savings habits with minimal effort.
Daily Mirror
10 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Warning as Spanish protestors 'armed with water-pistols' set new date for chaos
Overtourism campaigners in Barcelona have set a time, date and place for their next protest, which will see them revitalise tactics that captured headlines last year Anti-tourism activists are planning to arm themselves with water pistols and soak holidaymakers. On June 15 tourists in Spain may want to keep an eye out and dry towel in their tote bag. One of the city's leading anti-tourism organizations has announced a new protest encouraging the use of water pistols. The organization, which was behind last year's rally, has pledged to "disrupt the tourist normality". Daniel Pardo Rivacoba, a member of the Assembly of Neighborhoods for Tourism Degrowth, spoke about the power of the water pistol. He described it as "a popular symbol of resistance against the plundering of the tourism monoculture" before arguing that the tourism industry "is incompatible with life". His group is demanding rapid "tourism regrowth." On the same day protest will also take place in other parts of Spain, including Ibiza, San Sebastián, Palma de Mallorca, Granada, the Pyrenees, and in Portugal's capital, Lisbon, Catalan News reported. The only detail of the June 15 protest that has been confirmed so far is the date, its midday start time and starting location of Jardinets de Gràcia. It comes 11 months after protesters in the city stole headlines with a now iconic piece of campaigning. People marched down the streets and remonstrated with diners sitting outside restaurants. Some, judged to be on holiday, were blasted with water pistols. Guests were also prevented from leaving their hotels when campaigners taped up exits. Last July thousands of people took part in the day long rally against mass tourism. Clearly it is something people in the city care deeply about. The Catalan capital received more than 12 million tourists in 2023, with numbers expected to grow each year. There have been other cases of tourist squirting since the July rally. In April this year tourists aboard a sight-seeing bus in Barcelona were blocked and squirted with water by protesters. The organizers of many of the anti-tourism protests held in 2024 in Mallorca launched a protest in the Northern Spanish city. The Catalan Police were called when the campaigners blocked a bus packed with tourists close to the famous Sagrada Familia. Members of Més turisme, Menys vida (More Tourism, Less Life) launched the action after holding an international press conference. After stopping the bus in its tracks for several minutes, the protesters doused it with water pistols. According to OK Diario, police dispersed some of the activists and detained others. This tourism-phobic group from Mallorca carried out several pressure actions against tourists last year, both in Palma and on iconic beaches like Caló des Moro, as well as two demonstrations with thousands of people protesting against tourism in the streets of the Balearic capital.
Wales Online
15 hours ago
- Wales Online
State pensioners born in certain years given immediate Winter Fuel Payment increase
State pensioners born in certain years given immediate Winter Fuel Payment increase The payment is worth £100 more depending on when you were born Not everyone is aware of the price differences (Image: Getty ) Millions of state pensioners were controversially stripped of their £300 Winter Fuel Payment over the winter, since the government declared the benefit would be means tested the issue has been highly contentious. It means the vast majority of state pensioners will no longer receive a £300 payment unless they claim a qualifying benefit. Subsequently, Sir Keir Starmer announced a partial reversal on the benefit, pledging to reassess the eligibility threshold to reinstate the payment to more pensioners. The specifics of how this will be implemented or what the criteria might be have not yet been disclosed. This week, Rachel Reeves announced that more pensioners will receive the winter fuel allowance this year, although it still won't be universal. Officials haven't yet said how many more pensioners will be eligible. Rachel Reeves said: "We have listened to the concerns that people had about the level of the means test and so we will be making changes to that. They will be in place so that pensioners are paid this coming winter. "People should be in no doubt that the means test will increase and more people will get winter fuel payment this winter." However, many aren't aware that if you do qualify for the Winter Fuel Payment this year, the exact amount you receive will vary depending on your birth year and possibly other circumstances as well. Article continues below The Winter Fuel Payment was previously automatically given to all state pensioners, but until any changes are announced, the current rule is that you must be claiming a qualifying benefit such as Pension Credit. Those who are of state pension age but under 80, meaning they were born on or before September 22, 1958, and who qualify will receive a £200 payment. However, those aged over 80 - born on September 23, 1944, or earlier - will receive £300, reports the Express. For money-saving tips, sign up to our Money newsletter here . The amount you receive is determined by your age and circumstances during the 'qualifying week' of September 16 to 22, 2024. If you missed this period, you can backdate Pension Credit claims until December, so it's still accessible now. Therefore, if you're over 80 and eligible, your Winter Fuel Payment will rise from £200 to £300. Most qualifying individuals will receive a letter detailing the amount they'll receive and the bank account in which it will be paid to, this is typically the same as the one used for your Pension Credit or other benefits. Article continues below Age UK said: "If you or your partner claims Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance or income-related Employment and Support Allowance, the payment should go to the main claimant of the benefit automatically. "You should receive your payment between mid-November and Christmas. Call the Winter Fuel Payment helpline on 0800 731 0160 if you have any enquiries or you don't receive your payment."
