Anti-tourism protests in Spain are making a lasting impact as industries warn of the alarming visitation decline. Hoteliers, restaurateurs, retailers, nightlife operators, tour guides, and taxi drivers have revealed that July has been worse than 2024 following on from numerous anti-tourism demonstrations across the country.
Business owners on the island of Majorca have raised the alarm over the plummeting tourism figures due to the ongoing protests. “Where you’re not wanted, you don’t go,” Rafel Roig, president of the Business Federation of Transport, said. Ultima Hora reports that this is the overwhelming feeling from the main economic sectors. Holidaymakers have been put off from visiting Spain and its islands, with fears shops and establishments may seek closure if visitation continues to decline. “The anti-tourism messages are scaring visitors away,” says Juanmi Ferrer, president of Mallorca CAEB Restauración, who said turnover in July has fallen. “This year, hundreds of restaurants in Mallorca will close.”
He added that, in some areas, restaurants saw a drop in bookings by up to 40%, emphasising that those who do are also spending less.
Pedro Oliver, president of the Official College of Tourist Guides of the Balearic Islands, agrees that “the anti-tourism messages coming from Mallorca are taking hold”. He highlighted that “the sale of excursions has fallen by 20% this summer.”
Valldemossa, Palma and Puerto de Sóller, have reportedly been impacted the most, as Alcúdia has seen a 30% drop in figures.
While Britons make up a large portion of the visitation decline, excursion bookings have dropped among Germans, Spaniards and Italians too.
“Negative news has repercussions in other countries, as tourists choose other destinations when deciding where to go on holiday,” Mr Oliver said. “We’re sending out the message that we don’t want tourists and that everything is overcrowded.”
To counteract the fall, the small business association Pimeco has launched a campaign in favour of tourists: The president of Pimeco, Carolina Domingo, said that “they are noticing that anti-tourism messages are being felt.”
The association has now decided to take action and launch the initiative across social media channels too, in a bid to drive Brits back to Spain.