Majorca crisis as British tourists 'abandon' famous seaside isle for rival hotspot
Brits are increasingly shunning a well-known seaside town in Majorca in favour of Benidorm, which is deemed "more welcoming".
According to Miguel Perez-Marsa, president of Majorca's ABONE nightclub and entertainment association, holidaymakers now feel "demonised" in Magaluf.
The town, located on Majorca's western coast and previously a top destination for young British tourists, is now attracting more French and Italian visitors who tend to be less interested in partying. Perez-Marsa told Diario de Majorca that young British tourists had been "driven out" of Magaluf, which was once famous for its vibrant party scene.
In recent years, Magaluf has seen an influx of British families taking advantage of all-inclusive deals, but they often spend less time exploring the local area, ultimately affecting local businesses. Meanwhile, young tourists are flocking to Benidorm, which has undergone a "clean-up" and is now seen as a more appealing destination.
Magaluf's reputation took a hit in 2014 when it was labelled a "lawless party resort" following the release of shocking footage showing a British tourist engaging in explicit behaviour with multiple men in a bar. The incident prompted a crackdown on the town's party strip, with local authorities introducing fines for drunken tourists and restrictions to curb excessive behaviour.
At the time, Jose Ramon Bauza, Majorca's top politician, condemned the Punta Ballena party strip as "500 metres of shame". Benidorm has taken a stern approach to manage rowdy behaviour by imposing fines of up to £1,300 for street drinking, along with night-time closure of shops selling alcohol in specific areas, reports the Express.
The resort is notably popular with Brits, confirmed by last week's figures showing British tourists as the leading visitors in Benidorm with an impressive 84.7% average hotel occupancy rate this May.
Despite this, Spain continues to witness anti-tourism rallies, with a major protest scheduled for the coming Sunday in Palma, where around 60 collectives are expected to join forces.
Echoing the sentiments of those protesting, a spokesperson from the organising group stated last week: "We will demonstrate for the right to a decent life and to demand the brakes are put on the touristification of this island."
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