UK holidaymakers are threatening to snub Spain and choose destinations elsewhere following anti-tourism protests, with one Brit cautioning on social media: ‘Be careful what you wish for.’ This comes after thousands of locals in the Canary Islands and Balearics demonstrated on Saturday against a lack of affordable housing and rocketing tourist numbers.
One British tourist pointed out online, “The island earns most of its income from tourism,” in response to 15,000 Majorca residents protesting last weekend, telling tourists to ‘go home’ and ‘stay out’. “They should be careful what they wish for,” the tourist warned.
Approximately 45 per cent of Majorca’s GDP is generated by tourism, reports the Majorca Daily Bulletin. Organisers of the demonstration in Majorca’s capital Palma have called for the government to take action against rocketing rents, proposing a rental cap and a requirement for people to have lived on the island for five years before being allowed to buy a property.
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But Brits haven’t taken well to the demands, with one even suggesting a boycott of the islands: “Stop going to Spain for 12 months and they will be begging us to come back… Many British tourist spots would appreciate our patronage far more,” reports Birmingham Live.
Another comment highlighted the extent of the local frustration: “Yesterday evening, Palma city centre ground to a standstill as thousands of residents from all over Mallorca protested about the complete saturation of the island not just from the pressures of tourism, but the catastrophic property situation. This means many local people can no longer afford to live here. The video is out now on the Mallorca Under the Sun YouTube channel. I want to make it clear this is not just about tourism. It’s a wider issue.”
Yet another commenter was less sympathetic: “Tourists go home is a pretty clear statement wider issue or not. I have saved for over a year for my September holiday this year. It is the first holiday I’ve had since 2016. I just don’t want to spend my time and money somewhere that neither are wanted. If I had the option I would cancel the holiday and go elsewhere. I certainly won’t be back after this year. I can spend my money anywhere and Spanish residents can deal with their wider issues as they see fit.”
Another commenter added: “As someone who has been a ‘tourist’ for 20 plus years up to 4 x a year and spends in local bars, restaurants and not all inclusive it all comes across as pretty aggressive and inflammatory If the tourists do go home or don’t come how will a lot of these businesses survive?”
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