28 Sep, 2017 @ 11:38
1 min read

CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR: Spain would lose BILLIONS of euros per year without British tourists

Palma protest
FEARS: Residents voice mass-tourism concerns in new poll
FEARS: Residents voice mass-tourism concerns in new poll

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.

Mallorca is a favourite for Brits

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.”

 

Laurence Dollimore

Laurence Dollimore is a Spanish-speaking, NCTJ-trained journalist with almost a decade’s worth of experience.
The London native has a BA in International Relations from the University of Leeds and and an MA in the same subject from Queen Mary University London.
He earned his gold star diploma in multimedia journalism at the prestigious News Associates in London in 2016, before immediately joining the Olive Press at their offices on the Costa del Sol.
After a five-year stint, Laurence returned to the UK to work as a senior reporter at the Mail Online, where he remained for two years before coming back to the Olive Press as Digital Editor in 2023.
He continues to work for the biggest newspapers in the UK, who hire him to investigate and report on stories in Spain.
These include the Daily Mail, Telegraph, Mail Online, Mail on Sunday and The Sun and Sun Online.
He has broken world exclusives on everything from the Madeleine McCann case to the anti-tourism movement in Tenerife.

GOT A STORY? Contact newsdesk@theolivepress.es or call +34 951 273 575 Twitter: @olivepress

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