Latest news with #Perez-Marsa
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Daily Record
British tourists shun Spanish resort, leaving it eerily empty as other Europeans take over
Miguel Perez-Marsa, president of the island's ABONE nightclub and entertainment association, has said business is booming in the German-popular party resort of Playa de Palma but Brits are being demonised A popular Spanish holiday island typically thronged with British tourists has been photographed looking eerily deserted. Miguel Perez-Marsa, president of the island's ABONE nightclub and entertainment association, recently told local media that business is thriving in the German-favourite party hotspot of Playa de Palma, near the Majorcan capital. However, he claimed that young Brits are increasingly shunning Magaluf, an area once dominated by British holidaymakers during the summer season, suggesting that they have been "demonised." On Wednesday, dozens of beach sun loungers lay vacant as thousands of Spanish teenagers from Valencia, celebrating the end of their school exams, descended upon the resort. Some bar owners even admitted to adjusting their opening hours to accommodate the changing demographics of their clientele, reports the Mirror. According to Mr Perez-Marsa, the void left by the departing British tourists is being filled by French and Italian visitors, who tend to drink less and spend less on nightlife than their UK counterparts. He further alleged that British youngsters, who have traditionally flocked to Magaluf's vibrant Punta Ballena party strip, have been "steam-rollered" by the island authorities. Additionally, Mr Perez-Marsa noted an increase in British families visiting Magaluf, but lamented that they often opt for all-inclusive packages, resulting in reduced spending outside of their hotels. Magaluf's notorious party hotspot faced scrutiny when Majorca's then-top politician, Jose Ramon Bauza, branded Punta Ballena "500 metres of shame". The condemnation followed a distressing incident involving an 18 year old girl duped into performing sex acts for what was promised to be a free holiday but turned out to be a cocktail dubbed 'Holiday'. Steep fines up to £50,000 were enforced on tourists involved in balcony jumping, and limitations imposed on alcohol provision with meals at all-inclusive hotels in areas like Magaluf via a regional government ordinance aimed at curbing 'drunken tourism', instituted five years prior. The previous year witnessed even harsher crackdowns, with £1,300 fines for public drinking and obligatory night-time closures for shops selling alcohol in specific zones of Magaluf. Despite these measures, British holidaymakers continue to constitute a substantial portion of Magaluf's and, more extensively, Majorca's visitor economy. Each year, the island greets over 2.3 million British visitors, which represents nearly 26% of total tourist numbers. Germans still claim the lion's share with over 3.4 million visitors or 40% of the total, followed by approximately 340,000 Scandinavians, 238,000 French nationals, 160,000 Swiss, and 136,000 Irish. Calvia's Mayor, Juan Antonio Amengual, affirmed last year that "all Brits are welcome" in Magalluf. Addressing concerns of 'tourismphobia' due to conduct issues with some tourists – unequivocally not the majority - he maintained: "We want people to enjoy their holidays with respect between tourists and residents." Magaluf is on the western coast of Majorca. It has less than 4,000 permanent residents.
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Spanish resort usually bustling with Brits empty as sunbeds lie abandoned
Brits remain a big part of the tourist market in Magaluf and Majorca more broadly. Every year more than 2.3 million Brits head to Majorca, which accounts for around 26% of the total tourist traffic A Spanish holiday island typically bustling with Brits has been snapped looking empty and ghostly. Miguel Perez-Marsa, president of the island's ABONE nightclub and entertainment association, has told local press business is booming in the German-popular party resort of Playa de Palma near the Majorcan capital. However, he has claimed young Brits are turning their backs on Magaluf - where holidaymakers from other European countries were once a rare sight in the summer season - because they have been 'demonized.' Dozens of beach sunbeds lay empty yesterday as thousands of Spanish teenagers from Valencia partying after end-of-year school exams took over the resort, with some bar owners admitting they were opening up later to cater for the new type of tourists they were receiving. Do you have a travel story to share? Email webtravel@ Mr Perez-Marsa said the gap left by the British was being filled by French and Italian tourists who tend to drink less than UK party animals and don't spend as much going out at night. He went on to claim that British youngsters who have traditionally packed out the noisy nightspots of Magaluf's brash Punta Ballena party strip had been 'steam-rollered', by island authorities. Mr Perez-Marsa also said more British families were visiting Magaluf but complained they were opting for all-inclusive deals that meant they spent less outside their hotels. Magaluf's infamous party strip has been under the spotlight since Majorca's leading politician at the time, Jose Ramon Bauza, slammed Punta Ballena as "500 metres of shame". This came after an 18-year-old girl was tricked into performing sex acts for a supposed free holiday, only to receive a cocktail named 'Holiday'. Fines reaching up to £50,000 were introduced for tourists caught balcony jumping, and alcohol service with meals at all-inclusive hotels in areas like Magaluf was restricted under a regional government decree targeting 'drunken tourism', introduced five years ago. Last year saw even stricter measures, including £1,300 penalties for street drinking and mandatory night-time shutdowns of alcohol-selling shops in parts of Magaluf. Brits remain a big part of the tourist market in Magaluf and Majorca more broadly. Every year more than 2.3 million Brits head to Majorca, which accounts for around 26% of the total tourist traffic. The major share is still the Germans with more than 3.4 million, equating to 40% of the total. There are around 340,000 Scandinavians, 238,000 French, 160,000 Swiss, and 136,000 Irish. Last year the mayor of Calvia, Juan Antonio Amengual, announced that that "all Brits are welcome" in Magalluf. The mayor says that there is some "tourismphobia" on account of the behaviour of some tourists, but most certainly not all. "We want people to enjoy their holidays with respect between tourists and residents."
Edinburgh Live
5 days ago
- Edinburgh Live
Majorca crisis as British tourists 'abandon' famous seaside isle for rival hotspot
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 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."
