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Daily Mirror
31-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Spanish islands fear Brits won't return as tourists are dealt another blow
Locations such as the Canary Islands, which include Tenerife, Lanzarote and Gran Canaria, and the Balearics, with Majorca, Menorca and Ibiza, are said to be on a "war footing" against the increases Anger is mounting in Spain's holiday hotspots thanks to a rate hike that will directly impact tourists. Locations such as the Canary Islands, which include Tenerife, Lanzarote and Gran Canaria, and the Balearics, with Majorca, Menorca and Ibiza, are said to be on a "war footing" against the increases in airport charges levied by AENA, which runs most of the major airports in Spain. The organisation has refused to budge over the 6.5 per cent rise despite huge opposition from Spanish resorts. Hospitality chiefs in the Spanish destinations have warned ticket prices will rise as a result of the 6.5 per cent hike. They argue that it is coming at a particularly bad time, given the lengthy overtourism protests that have targeted major resorts in recent years. Hospitality industry leaders are sounding the alarm bell about visitor numbers. Some locals in Majorca have claimed that certain resorts are "completely dead". Restaurant association president, Juanmi Ferrer, has warned that the protests are "scaring visitors away", while Miguel Pérez‑Marsá, head of the nightlife association, sounded a similar alarm. He 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." Biel Rosales, who runs excursion provider Proguies Turístics, said activity had been cut in half this summer, blaming the protests as well as rising prices. "Tourismphobia and the idea that tourists are not welcome are hurting us greatly," he said. The cooling effect has also been felt in the taxi ranks. Biel Moragues, who works in one of the island's taxi associations, told Mail Online: "British tourists are the most upset by the protests and have changed their holiday destination." The Canary Islands want to be exempt from the airport fee increase, saying higher ticket prices will hit their main markets, led by the Brits, very hard. AENA's board of directors approved the airport charges for 2026 yesterday and reaction from holiday resorts was instant. The authority, which manages Spain's airfield network, refused to budge from the plan announced weeks ago, despite public opposition from airlines and, in particular, from the Canary Islands and Balearic Islands governments. President of the Association of Airlines (ALA), Javier Gándara, said the increase was "excessive". AENA taxes are one of the factors that determine airline ticket prices, so any increase in these taxes ultimately translates into higher flight prices. Airlines currently pay an average fare of €10.35 per passenger. Starting in 2026, once the 6.5% increase is applied, this tax will rise to a maximum of €11.03, or €0.68 more per passenger. The authorities in Tenerife are to challenge the increase and are urging the Spanish government to exclude the Canary Islands from the 6.5% airport tax increase planned by AENA for 2026.
Daily Mirror
28-07-2025
- Daily Mirror
Brits 'scared away' from Majorca as holiday hotspot left 'completely dead'
Some locals in Majorca are claiming that certain resorts are 'empty', with one hospitality boss sounding the alarm over the impact that overtourism protests are having Spanish officials have warned that overtourism protests are scaring off holidaymakers. Some locals in Majorca have claimed that certain resorts are "completely dead", following several years of intense campaigning about the impacts of tourism on the Balearic islands and those similar to it. Restaurant association president, Juanmi Ferrer, has now warned that the protests are "scaring visitors away", while Miguel Pérez‑Marsá, head of the nightlife association, sounded a similar alarm. He 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." Pedro Oliver, president of the College of Tour Guides, told Mail Online that his industry had been impacted by the negative messaging. "The anti‑tourism messages are resonating," he said, noting that sales were down 20 % as key markets including Brits and Germans were staying away. Biel Rosales, who runs excursion provider Proguies Turístics, said activity had been cut in half this summer, blaming the protests as well as rising prices. "Tourismphobia and the idea that tourists are not welcome are hurting us greatly," he said. The cooling effect has also been felt in the taxi ranks. Biel Moragues, who works in one of the island's taxi associations, told Mail Online: "British tourists are the most upset by the protests and have changed their holiday destination." Lesley Johnson, from Leicester, has been living in Majorca for 30 years and has seen a big change this year. Where previously the main strip would be packed and difficult to walk down on Friday and Saturday evenings, now it is "dead". She echoed the complaints of other Brits who have made the holiday island their home, that the number of their compatriots living in Majorca is dwindling as each year passes. While it is hard to judge how many people have visited Majorca so far this summer and whether overall numbers are down, early-season figures suggest Brits might be staying away. In March, visitors from Majorca's third-largest market, the UK, were down 23.2 % to 48,741. For the Balearics as a whole, the UK fell 25.3 % to 52,170. Other markets showed notable decreases as well, with France down 39.4 % in Majorca and Italy 40.1 %. It may be that Brits are avoiding the Balearic islands such as Majorca and opting for the Canaries instead. Recent Canary Islands Statistics Institute data show an influx of British tourists to Lanzarote so far this summer. Numbers have swelled by just shy of 40,000, despite widespread demonstrations rocking the archipelago. According to Gazette Life, UK visitor numbers to Lanzarote surged from 691,902 to 738,387 during the five‑month period year‑on‑year. Intriguingly, German visitor numbers have dwindled by nearly 30,000 in Lanzarote, as recorded between January and May 2025. Official figures on the number of visitors to Majorca over the month of June will be released this week. They will offer a good indication of whether tourism to the island has slumped, as it did in May, when visitor numbers were down by just over 1 %. Jordi Mora, president of the Federation of Small and Medium Enterprises of Majorca, has argued against the suggestion that the protests were scaring tourists away, claiming that there would be a 5 % growth in visitor numbers this year compared to last, once the season is complete.
