Spanish destinations are likely to be shunned by Brits this holiday season as they will respond to anti-tourism sentiment by travelling elsewhere. Several other nations are already set to benefit from the mass exodus, which is expected to see 56% of those who normally go to España now considering other alternatives.
According to The Sun, nearly 80% of people polled said intense protests by locals had made the UK’s favourite holiday destination less appealing. Spanish locals have staged anti-tourist demonstrations in holiday locations due to overcrowding and soaring house costs.
Other destinations such as Italy are being seen as top alternatives and are now being booked by Brits determined to avoid Spain. The Costas are being swapped by older tourists for the Italian Almafi coast. Younger travellers are looking at more long-haul options as they explore other holiday hotspots. Greece, Dubai and the USA are now being touted as the new, highly sought after holiday locations where Brits will be spending their hard earned.
Jenna Banks, spokesperson for Slice Mobile, which commissioned the study of 2,000 Brits, said: “It’s clear from the research that Britain’s love of Spain has been put to the test. We may not have said adios to Marbella completely, but with long-haul destinations like Dubai and America becoming more popular, finding a mobile network that offers great value international roaming, like Slice Mobile, is more important than ever.”
Other popular locations expected to draw in British holidaymakers include France, Portugal and Turkey. Thailand and Canada are the next choices, most likely amongst younger travellers who won’t mind spending longer journey times on long flights.
Not everyone in Spain is against tourists or blames them for some societal problems. Restaurant and bar owners in Majorca recently blasted anti-tourism protesters, according to an earlier article in The Express.
They blamed numerous demonstrations over recent months for a huge downfall in trade on the popular Spanish holiday island.
CAEB, which represents business owners in Spain’s Balearic islands, said it hoped that September “will save the season” after seeing transactions plunge since May. Last month it was revealed beach bars, parasol hire companies, and water activity operators saw a 20% drop-off in July compared to the previous year.