Laurence Dollimore
SPAIN could lose more than €13 billion a year if British holidaymakers boycotted the country.
It comes after waves of anti-tourism protests in Barcelona, Mallorca, Menorca and Ibiza called on tourists to ‘go home’.
Tourists faced abuse and even attacks as fed-up locals accused them of spoiling their areas and driving up rental prices.
Derogatory graffiti appeared throughout the summer, branding tourists as ‘terrorists’ and demanding travellers ‘go home’.
Just last week a bus carrying tourists in Mallorca was pelted by eggs, almost causing it to crash.
A new survey of residents in the Balaeric Islands showed two thirds of of people polled believed the number of British tourists should be capped, and backed the decision to double next year’s tourist tax.
But if the protestors got their wish, it could have serious consequences for the Spanish economy, of which tourism makes up about 12%.
Alexander Goransson, lead analyst and tourism specialist at Euromonitor, told The Sun: “Tourism expenditure to Spain stood at €55 billion in 2016.
“Some €14 billion of that came from the UK – that’s 26%.
“So we are actually the biggest contributor to the Spanish tourist economy.”
Some regular holidaymakers to Majorca have already suggested they will not be returning to the Balearics in 2018 because of the backlash against them.
One tourist told the Sun: “Bye Bye Mallorca. Me and my money will be welcomed somewhere else.
“I have done what the demonstrators want. I have just cancelled my two holidays to Mallorca for next year.
“I really feel sorry for the people who want us tourists to visit and spend our money but I for one shall not return in the future. The last thing I need on holiday is to feel like an intruder and an unwanted person.”
Another visitor said he would go to Portugal’s islands instead, adding: “Mallorca used to be the friendliest place in the world.
“I remember Mallorca in the 1980s when I first came.
“Trying to regulate when people come to visit and when or if they can drive a rental car is insane! I have noticed an arrogance that never was prevalent here before.
“The Madeiras are starting to look great.”
