Mallorca fears protests could hurt tourism
After thousands protest against mass tourism, there are fears it could deter vacationers from visiting the Balearic Islands
Javier Vich, president of the Palma Hoteliers Association and CEO of the Summum Hotel Group, fears that reports of protests in the streets and on the beaches of Palma could deter travelers from booking vacations to the Balearic Islands.
Key takeaways
- At the end of May, nearly 10,000 people marched through Mallorca's capital carrying placards reading "SOS Residents" and "Enough Mass Tourism”;
- Some current visitors to Mallorca feel unsafe due to protests on beaches and threats of airport occupations;
- Tourism contributes about 45 percent of the Balearic Islands' GDP, according to industry group Exceltur, but protesters argue that vacation rentals are making housing unaffordable for locals.
Get the full story at The Independent