Pessimism about the island of holidays: That's why there are fewer bookings for Majorca

Palma.
On the island of holidays in Germany, pessimism is spreading: for the first time in years, the number of reservations is decreasing. Also because holidays in Turkey and Greece are even cheaper.

Just in time for the peak summer season, new protests against mbad tourism are igniting on the Spanish island of Mallorca. Anti-glamor slogans appear on the facades of several youth hostels in Palma, the island's capital. "Hotels, out of the neighborhood", strangers sprayed on the walls. Or: "That's enough now with hotels."

Similar graffiti had been identified in recent years in summer. But hoteliers are still worried for a reason: for the first time in years, reservations date back to Europe's most famous holiday island. A reversal of trend, which brings the Majorcan newspaper to the question: "Are the fat years over?"

During the year 2017, 10.3 million foreign visitors were listed on the island. It was a more lush six percent compared to last year. But after the first half of 2018, the industry is pessimistic. From January to the end of May 2018, according to official statistics, 0.35% less holidaymakers than the previous year. Also bookings for the summer months are according to the provisional numbers in the least.

"There is a clear downward trend," confirms the Mallorca hotel badociation. The main reason given is the growing competition from other Mediterranean countries. Turkey, Greece, Tunisia and Egypt enjoy discounts, while hotel prices in Mallorca have increased in recent years.

Add to that the protests against tourism that could make some travelers unacceptable, Last weekend, a small squad of protesters greeted pbadengers at Palma airport with placards saying, "Tourism kills Mallorca ". And: "Those who love Majorca do not destroy it."

On the pamphlets, the surprised travelers were pushed into the hand, he said: "Mallorca is currently experiencing a serious environmental crisis.The beaches are overcrowded, the streets are bungled because of the many rental cars, garbage cans are reaching peaks every summer. "Social issues have also been addressed in the manifesto:" Mallorca is a paradise for precarious work and low wages. "

We know that many waiters and maids must live with uncertain deadlines and miserable gross wages of less than 1,000 euros. "We are being expelled from our cities and villages, where everything is strictly subject to tourism," protesters complain. As a result, the number of citizens who demanded a limitation on mbad tourism increased daily.

The demonstration at the airport came from the civic platform "A city for the residents" (Ciutat for a resident) and from the left The Arran youth group was organized. Even if they are rather small movements, they tackle problems that haunt many people in Mallorca. Problems that have since forced even the center-left government of the Balearic Islands, including Mallorca, to act. The island government, which is made up of socialists and regional leftist monks, decided several months ago to cover the number of tourists.

To do this, we will limit the number of beds in hotels and private housing, which initially will no longer develop and, in the medium term, will be reduced from 440,000 to 320,000 previous beds. In addition, the private rental of guest beds, which has exploded in recent years, is limited. In the island's capital, Palma, the expansion of holiday apartments has resulted in a 40% increase in rents over the past four years, said recently Palma Police Chief José Hila . As a result, the local population finds housing that is barely affordable.