Warning as Britons planning getaway to Majorca over Bank Holiday could be hit by major disruptions
Thousands of Britons are expected to visit Majorca over the bank holiday
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Britons planning to jet off to Spain in the coming days have been warned of potential disruptions as locals call for less tourism on the island.
Authorities have warned that demonstrations at the holiday hotspot will likely take place over the public holiday, with higher traffic levels and airport chaos expected.
The holiday destination is the latest to be hit by demonstrations against tourism - with authorities in other hotspots already imposing restrictions to control the number of visitors.
Organisers of the protests said they were surprised at the number of activists supporting their cause.
Majorca will be hit by a wave of demonstrations
GettyA spokesman for the organising group, Banc de Temps de Sencelles, said: “Initially, we thought there would be about 2,000 people but now it is going to be considerably more.”
With more demonstrations expected in the coming days, visitors have been warned that groups may seek to disrupt operations at Palma de Mallorca Airport (PMI).
An expat named Alex, who runs the channel Mallorca Under the Sun, spoke about the anti-tourism sentiment on her YouTube page, where she claimed it only concerns a small number of locals.
She said: “As a resident here for over 19 years now, I have to say that we’ve had these anti-tourism protests since I moved here, so since 2005.
“I live on the west side of Palma, [and] I can happily tell you that I have not seen any anti-tourism graffiti. This is a small minority of people.
“What can you expect? Should you be cancelling your holiday? Yes, it may be a bit busy at the airport, and yes you may have a slight delay in traffic, but 99 per cent of you are going to be having a great holiday.”
Alex did warn that unsustainable traffic levels in Majorca are bringing cars to a complete standstill across the island, however.
For a stress-free getaway, the content creator recommended public transport, as it’s both inexpensive and efficient.
Several cities across Spain have imposed bans and taxes to combat the ever-growing influx of visitors.
Locals in Seville have launched a petition calling for stricter controls on ‘toxic’ tourism in the hotspot.
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Tourists may face disruptions at the airport
Creative CommonsThe Canary Islands have also seen a wave of anti-tourism protests call for an urgent rethink of tourism strategies.
It comes as four people have died after a restaurant collapsed at the destination, with at least 27 left injured.
The tragedy unfolded after the upper floor of a bar and restaurant collapsed in the popular Majorca tourist resort of Palma Beach.
Authorities fear that more people may be trapped beneath the rubble after the first floor of the restaurant caved in.