Locals in Majorca will avoid several beaches this summer because they are filled with sun loungers, parasols, and beach bars for tourists, it’s been claimed. Residents were surveyed on the effects of overcrowding on mobility for a study by Sergio Obrador of the Demographic and Tourism Studies Group at the University of the Balearic Islands. Over 80% of those surveyed said they had stopped going to certain places on the island due to overcrowding in summer, with the majority naming beaches.
Four stood out as the ones to avoid the most — Caló des Moro, Es Trenc, Sa Calobra, and Magaluf. Es Trenc is three kilometres long but still suffers from crowding and problematic beach access. Sa Calobra and Caló des Moro also have access issues. Last summer, the latter became a hotspot for protests against overcrowding.
The Majorca Platja Tour group – a response to a Vox politician’s statement that Majorcans can no longer expect to go to beaches in the summer – staged a demonstration in June.
Caló des Moro has become a favourite for Instagrammers and influencers, who are said to have contributed to the overcrowding.
Magaluf’s popularity comes from its fame, despite the resort’s transformation over recent years and the emergence of upmarket beach clubs.
Just under 80% of another beach, Cala Major, is taken up by pricey sunloungers, parasols, beach bars, showers, storage and lifeguard stations, according to calculations from the Sant Agustí and Cala Major Neighbours Association.
Residents had serious problems finding space last summer, with just 22% of the beach left where they can place their towels for free.
The tourist services don’t come cheap either, with two sunloungers and a parasol setting people back €25.30 per day, while the same in the premium zone costs an eye-watering €70.
This follows multiple protests last summer to call for stricter limits on visitor numbers and regulations in Spain’s tourist destinations. More than 20,000 protestors were reported to have gathered in Palma in July with slogans such as “Your luxury, our misery.”
In 2023, the total number of tourists increased by 1.3m to 17.8m, and The Balearic Statistics Institute reported a 17% increase in tourist arrivals between January and March this year.
