One of leading voices in tourism has said locals feel as if they are being “invaded, not visited” as tensions between those living on the island and those frequenting for a weekend continue to rise. During a debate on Wednesday (June 26), between political leaders, hoteliers and environmentalists, Pedro Mas Bergas, the Council of Majorca's director for tourism governance and sustainability, told the panel and crowd that "right now we no longer feel visited, but invaded”. He also added that a current factor in the over-tourism of the island is that residents often invite their family and friends to stay - something he said was overlooked in the frequent debate over the number of tourists allowed on the island.
reports that one of the more forceful voices in the debate was that of Fernando Valledares - a professor at Spain’s National Research Council - who said that the de growth of tourism on the island was not only inevitable but would bring prosperity. He said: "A society that is exasperated or grumbling will do us no good." It follows on from a protest last week where hundreds of locals occupied one of the island’s most popular beaches, telling tourists to “go home”.
Protesters have been appealing for a cap on visitors, saying they can’t afford to live in homes, and that the island is overcrowded. There have been widespread demonstrations across many Spanish holiday destinations, all across the Balearic Islands and even the Canary Islands. Locals have spoken.
