British tourists are reportedly turning their backs on a popular seaside town in Majorca. They’re instead opting to visit Benidorm which is reportedly “more welcoming”.
According to Miguel Perez-Marsa, president of Majorca’s ABONE nightclub and entertainment association, holidaymakers now feel “demonised” in Magaluf. The town on the western coast of Majorca is known as a major tourist destination but is now being visited by French and Italian tourists who are less interested in partying in comparison to Brits. Mr Perez-Marsa told Diario de Majorca that young British tourists had been “steam-rollered” out of the town after once packing out the lively party strip.
More British families are now visiting Magaluf for all-inclusive deals. However, they spend less time outside of their hotels which is impacting local businesses.
Young tourists are now choosing to visit Benidorm instead, following the party resort’s “clean-up”. They reportedly find the town “more welcoming” than Magaluf.
Magaluf was branded a “lawless party resort” in 2014 after shocking footage showed a British tourist performing sex acts on 24 men in a bar. It led to a local crack crackdown to improve the town’s party strip.
Jose Ramon Bauza, Majorca’s top politician at the time, slammed the Punta Ballena party strip as “500 metres of shame”. Fines were introduced in a clampdown on drunk tourists, and restrictions were announced last year to curb some of the worst tourist excesses.
This included fines of up to £1,300 for tourists caught street drinking. Meanwhile, shops selling alcohol in certain areas of the town were closed during the night time.
Figures published last week show that British tourists make up the majority of holidaymakers in Benidorm. The resort’s average hotel occupancy rate was 84.7% in May.
However, anti-tourism protests continue to take place across Spain. There will be yet another demonstration in Palma this Sunday with around 60 groups set to take part.
A spokesman for the activist organisation said last week: “We will demonstrate for the right to a decent life and to demand the brakes are put on the touristification of this island.”