British holidaymakers have been given a strong warning to avoid a popular tourist spot due to an impending protest. Reports detail that Majorca’s beach may be the site of unrest from demonstrators planning to gather there between 8am and 1pm on June 16.
The planning group, under the banner of “Objective: Recover Calo des Moro”, has announced their plans to protest at Calo des Moro in Santanyi within those hours. Manuela Canadas, a spokeswoman for the far-right Vox party, said: “I understand the discontent but us Majorcans, who live directly or indirectly from tourism, cannot expect to go to the beach in July and August like we did years ago.”
She added: “There are other more attractive destinations and we can end up going hungry because here there’s a lack of jobs.”
Further explaining the situation, the organisation Mallorca Plaja Tour said: “Calo des Moro is a symbol of the overcrowding on our beaches and that’s why we have chosen to go and have fun on Sunday, June 16.”
After witnessing the increasing tensions, Abta, the British travel association, implored the UK travel industry to take issues of over-tourism and overcrowding in Majorca “seriously”. The association confirmed to Travel Weekly that it was liaising with local officials to control the situation, reports Birmingham Live.
Its spokesperson said: “The protests were not against tourism to the islands or targeted at tourists. Protesters were raising concerns about how tourism is managed.”
The head of communications at The Travel Foundation, Ben Lynam, said: “Majorca is at the sharp end of an issue that affects all our industry. Destinations have limits and tourism is only welcome when it respects these and the communities. Businesses will increasingly need to accept limits as not just necessary but desirable.”