Once popular resort now 'completely dead' as Brits turn their backs amid protests
There are claims a once-popular UK holiday hotspot is in crisis after widespread anti-tourism demonstrations have left formerly bustling resorts 'completely dead'. The Balearic island of Majorca has reportedly seen a decline in UK visitors who have been 'scared away'.
Local business owners are now saying that summers of protests have taken their toll with British holidaymakers and other European visitors avoiding the island too as they now feel unwelcome. And it's having an effect on businesses, owners say.
Miguel Perez-Marsa, the head of the nightlife association, told the Majorca Daily Bulletin: "The tourists we're interested in are being driven away; they don't feel welcome and are going to other destinations."
His comments come on the back of locals taking to the streets and beaches in the face of rising housing costs and the environmental toll of tourism.
President of the College of Tour Guides, Pedro Oliver, said that bookings have seen a major decline, with excursion rates dropping by 20 percent this summer, reports The Express.
And he said, far from it only being Brits that are steering clear, German and Italian visitors have also been put off.
He said: "The anti-tourism messages are resonating. If you generate negative news, which has repercussions in other countries, tourists opt for other destinations when choosing their holidays."
Another tour operator has also seen a drop in numbers this year. "Tourismphobia and the idea that tourists are not welcome are hurting us greatly," Biel Rosales, president of tour operator Proguies Turistics, said.
The operator said they would typically offer around 30 excursions per cruise, but say this figure has fallen to 12-14.
Official data from May shows that there was a 1.6 percent decrease in visitor numbers to Spain. While the decline in visitation is not isolated to Brits, the loss of their custom is reportedly having the largest impact.
Biel Moragues, representing one of Majorca's taxi associations, said: "British tourists are the most upset by the protests and have changed their holiday destination."
Lesley Johnson, 66, from Leicester, has lived in Majorca for more than 30 years. She told MailOnline: "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."
While many believe that the protests are the sole course for the drop in tourism, some believe that traffic jams, increased prices and less disposable income may be contributing too.
Jordi Mora, president of the Federation of Small and Medium Enterprises of Majorca (Pinem), disagrees, however.
He said his federation's latest report "pointed to a 5 percent growth compared to 12 percent last year".
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