A Brit who regularly visits Majorca has spoken out about the “drastic increase” in prices on the island. Edward Fox has holidayed on Majorca three times per year for over thirty decades but claims it has now become unaffordable for most tourists.
In addition to restaurant prices, he said the cost of accommodation has surged on the island “over the last five or six years.” The Balearic Islands have increased their Sustainable Tourism Tax (ITS) from €4 to €6 per person, per night, for the summer months. Edward has accused Majorca of “biting the hand that feeds them” and warned that “us tourists do bite back.”
As reported by the Majorca Daily Bulletin, he said: “I am writing to you because I have been holidaying in Majorca sometimes three times per year definitely twice per year for more than 30 years for approx three weeks every time I come over (I am a U.K. citizen).
“Over the last five or six years of me coming to Mallorca I have noticed a drastic increase in not only hotel/apartment accommodation prices but also the increase in food, drink, restaurant prices which is not reflected in the global inflation increases.
“It is not in a real comparison on these increases, also the increase of the ‘tourist tax’ up to approx €4 per person per night is subject to an addition 10 % tax (proposed) is incredible and unaffordable for most British tourists coming to Majorca.”
Edward added that Majorca is now losing out to more affordable Asian countries such as Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia. He claimed that hotels in these countries are up to 70% cheaper than in Majorca.
He continued: “So go ahead Majorca, bite the hand that has came to this island put so much money into your tourism, infrastructure, government, hoteliers pockets etc etc for the best part of 40 years, us tourists do bite back, and me personally and many hundreds of thousands of tourists have bitten back.
“As a seasoned traveller to Majorca it is getting far too expensive and non-tourist friendly and every thing is so not worth visiting or holidaying in this island until your Balearic Government and the people of Majorca realise this.”
Edward’s letter comes after residents in the town of Sóller staged a protest against overtourism. They wore t-shirts with the slogan ‘Miris on miris, tot són guiris’ (Wherever you look, they’re all gringos), which included the image of a typical tourist.
The residents said: “We want to raise awareness of the problems that affect us on a daily basis, with a touch of provocation: we don’t want to have to leave Soller to be able to live with dignity.”
They added: “It is not a phobia of visitors, but a matter of survival. Mass tourism is driving us out of our homes.
“It makes it difficult for us to access housing, displaces us from public spaces, overwhelms basic services and transforms everyday life beyond recognition.”
