A British travel boss has warned UK tourists are having doubts over holidaying in Spain as they fear for their safety. CEO of airline Jet2, Steve Heapy, said there was a growing “perception” among some UK holidaymakers that they were no longer welcome in Spain, Majorca Daily Bulletin reported.
Mr Heapy said: “We’ve had people ringing the call centre and going into travel agents, asking questions like ‘is Spain safe?’, ‘are we still welcome in the resort?’ It is becoming a big issue unfortunately, and perception becomes truth.” His comments come as a number of protests broke out across Spain over the last few months in opposition to overtourism in the country. Large scale demonstrations erupted in April, which saw protestors telling tourists to “stay away” and avoid worsening a critical housing crisis. In March, a letter signed by seven protest groups urged tourists not to come to the island. They said: “The greed and avarice of hoteliers, politicians, real estate investors, and all kinds of ‘parasites’ have brought us to an emergency situation.”
Activists continued: “Mallorca is not the paradise they are selling you. The local population is angry, and we are no longer hospitable because the land we love is being destroyed, and many residents are having to emigrate.”
A report by property portal pisos.com in February suggested the average cost of renting across Spain has risen by over 20% in the last five years, pricing locals out of the market.
Mr Heapy said “unlicensed tourism”, including those who stay in private accommodation listed on Airbnb, is causing a “huge problem” and “needs to be controlled”.
He warned some properties “could be death traps” and said he was in favour of introducing fines for unlicensed hosts.
“Unfortunately there’s been a massive explosion in unlicensed tourism properties. Airbnb can be controlled. They don’t rule the world. They are an online platform that we can control and put legislation in place.”
He advocated for penalties of €250,000 (£211,000) for Airbnb hosts who are found not to have the required licenses or tax records.
In an effort to quell fears over Spain’s travel sector, London’s Spanish Tourist Office director said his country was still “enthusiastic” to welcome Brits to its shores.
Manuel Butler said: “It is important to distinguish between specific local tensions and the broader national picture. The vast majority of Spain remains enthusiastic in welcoming tourists.
“Where protests have occurred – in cities such as Barcelona, Palma and Santa Cruz – concerns stem from broader societal issues: housing pressures, rising costs of living, and environmental strain in high-density areas.”
Rosario Sanchez Grau, Spain’s secretary of state for tourism, said: “We are proud and grateful that Spain remains the number one holiday destination for UK visitors. It is our priority to protect and nurture this relationship for the future.”
More protests have been threatened across Spain in mid-June, with new demonstrations breaking out over recent weeks in Soller and Santanyi.