Fed-up residents in one of Majorca’s popular tourist resorts have finally had enough and have taken to the streets and launched petitions to demand better care for its locals. Boasting a large sandy beach, a bustling nightlife with several bars and clubs, as well as being just a short distance from the capital of Palma and the airport, Arenal in Llucmajor has become a leading tourist destination for both families and young people looking for a good time.
However, residents in Arenal, on the island’s south coast, have begun collecting signatures to demand that the town hall “takes more care” of the resort. An impressive 200 people gathered in Arenal’s Plaça Major on Monday (September 16) as pressure mounts on local authorities. So far, the petition has gathered 500 signatures, which will be presented to the town hall to press for action. “Everything is a disaster,” said spokesperson Sandra Jiménez.
The demands being asked for are not “anything out of the ordinary,” Ms Jiménez added. “All we want is to live in a decent area because that’s what we pay our taxes for.”
The pleas include better street cleaning, repaired pavements, well-maintained rubbish bins and increased security and surveillance.
During Monday’s gathering, residents from the inland town of Llucmajor also attended, “as they are in the same situation as us”.
In addition to poor waste collection, “everything else is also bad – the filthy sewers, the broken and dilapidated pavements, the potholes […] Everything is so neglected,” the spokesperson added.
They plan to attend the next council meeting to speak with the local mayor, Xisca Lascolas: ” We want her to listen to our demands and commit to fixing all the issues we’re denouncing, because we can’t live like this. This is not a political mobilisation.
“We all believe this municipality needs urgent action to offer a better appearance to our visitors. We have to remember that we practically live off tourism, and we can’t give such a deplorable image.
“We believe that the residents of Arenal deserve an explanation about what is happening and a commitment from the authorities to solve the problems we face in this area.”
This news comes as Jaume Pujol, 17, a Majorcan who has been branded the Greta Thunberg of the anti-tourism movement, warned that the demonstrations against mass-tourism will not stop. He told the Metro: “The ultimate victory would be a change in our island’s socioeconomic model that involves economic diversification and a decrease in tourism. Until then, if tourists still decide to come here for their holiday, they can do so with more respect for the island and its residents.”