Locals battling with tourists to get on buses in Spain have been promised that action will be taken. Residents in the popular holiday destination are used to their beaches filling with sun-seekers over the summer months, but some are now complaining about the impact tourist hordes are having on public transport.
Rafael Roig, Balearic Transport Federation president, acknowledged the issue, but sought to blame free bus travel to locals for the overcrowding. However, he insisted residents’ demands “must always come first”.
Mr Roig suggested more services and better management of visitor flows could help tackle the problem, according to Majorca Daily Bulletin.
He was quoted by the publication as saying: “We need to cushion and regulate the influx of tourists. If it’s better regulated and planned, the impact would be less, society would experience it with less pressure, and businesses could provide better, more efficient service.
“We must prioritise the well-being of those of us who live here, but without closing the door to those who visit and feed us.”
The transport chief admitted this year’s tourist season had been weaker than 2024’s, pointing to a “noticeable” drop in visitors from Germany, which is Spain’s biggest tourist market.
Despite this, August saw Spain receive 11.3 million international visitors, according to figures reported by Spain’s National Statistics Institute (INE).
The number represents a 2.9% increase on the same month last year and comes after a record-breaking July when 11 million foreigners arrived.
Increasing numbers of tourists since the pandemic have led some locals to call for curbs to stem the tide of visitors and demand on utilities such as water.
Cities such as Barcelona have seen locals take to the streets in protest over the cost and availability of housing for residents as opposed to short-term lets for holidaymakers.
While some oppose the annual influx, others welcome the tourism boom because of its impact on the country’s economy.
The World Travel & Tourism Council forecasts that this year the travel and tourism sector in Spain could reach an all-time high of an estimated contribution of £226.4billion (€260.5bn) to GDP.
WTTC projections also show by the end of this year, tourism will account for 3.2 million jobs in Spain, 14.4% of total employment.