The Balearic Islands have been witnessing numerous protests due to concerns about overtourism (Image: Getty) Majorca continues to be hit by anti tourism protests but one travel expert is begging for Brits to still visit. Earlier this month, holiday rental companies in Palma reported an increase in summer holiday cancellations from UK tourists, influenced by negative media coverage of anti-tourism demonstrations in Barcelona, Majorca and Menorca. These protests have highlighted growing concerns about overtourism in the Balearic Islands, with thousands of demonstrators marching through the streets in Palma de Majorca holding anti-tourist signs and even incidents in Barcelona where residents squirted diners in tourist areas with water guns during a protest against mass tourism.
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Log('[Load] OVP flagTcfLoaded',new Date())}else{document.addEventListener("tcfLoaded",()=>{loadOvpScript()ExpressApp.Log('[Load] OVP tcfLoaded',new Date())})}},1500)}) While the Balearic Islands have witnessed numerous protests, there is one local who has emphasised the importance of tourism to the region’s economy.
Pedro Fiol, president of Aviba, the Association of Balearic Travel Agents, recently spoke out about the need for the islands to design a “clear and definite roadmap” for the future of their tourist industry. In an interview with the Majorca Daily Bulletin, Fiol discussed how the tourism industry has evolved post- Covid . He revealed that “people are desperate to go on holiday, thus having a direct impact on the industry and booking trends.
” Trending However, he believes this surge will eventually calm down within the next few years and has urged locals to think long-term rather than reacting with panic or protests. He said, “To begin with, tourists are coming to Mallorca for fewer days, but occupancy is the same, which translates into more overcrowding. Because all visitors want to see the most emblematic areas of the island, this is why they suffer more saturation.
” Fiol recognises that in Majorcan society, there is a certain unease about overcrowding, with recent demonstrations providing proof of these concerns. However, he suggested that many of the island’s problems could be addressed with practical solutions. “If there are not enough public buses to provide a proper public transport service for tourists and residents, then buy more buses, increase services.
If there aren’t enough trains, well do the same. We don’t need expensive surveys and reports when the solutions are obvious,” he stated. Fiol, who works closely with both domestic and international tourists, admitted he can see both sides of the argument.
Fiol, has urged locals to think long-term rather than reacting with panic or protests (Image: Getty) Don't miss...
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Read our Privacy Policy He added: “Furthermore, as a Majorcan, contrary to what some of the protesters think about us in the tourist industry, I care deeply about protecting and preserving Majorca. I live here and I want to enjoy this beautiful island, but we’ve all got to make a living and that living, for the vast majority of people, comes from tourism. And I’m afraid the complementary sector has suffered this year.
” Fiol also commented on the impact of inflation across Europe , which has further complicated the situation for the tourism industry. “So, like I said, there’s a post- Covid hunger to go on holiday, but not everybody’s got the money to spend in a resort, hence why restaurants, bars, and shops are struggling.” He emphasised that when people are watching their money, value for money becomes crucial for tourists when they are booking and budgeting for a holiday.
“What we can’t have is hotels and airlines putting up their prices by between 15 and 20 percent and then offering the same services and quality as the year before,” he remarked. Fiol concluded the interview by reminding locals that both the UK and Germany are the foundations and “pillars” of Majorca’s tourism industry. He also shared that the perception overseas and in the international media that tourists are the "root cause of overtourism", and therefore not wanted in the region, is certainly not the case.
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