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5 months ago
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ANTI-tourism zealots have stormed an Instagram-famous Majorca beach as they continue to run rife across Spain this summer.
Holidaymakers trying to get an early spot on the sand were barely able to lay down their towels as Spanish cops were forced to turn them away.
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SolarpixThe number of protesters had swelled to more than 300 by around 10am, at the same time the first families were arriving at Calo des Moro.
Tourists quickly packed their things after being met with the hundreds of angry locals cascading down the rocky shores.
Nearly half a dozen Civil Guard officers also showed up around the same time, asking protest leaders to identify themselves.
Islanders kept their promise to “reclaim” the postcard cove from foreigners by taking up every inch of space on the tiny 130ft stretch of sand with their beach towels.
They say Calo des Moro has been taken over by influencer tourists who “only go there to take a picture”.
Pictures show dozens of locals holding anti-tourist signs and waving “SOS residents” and “it’s time to act” banners.
One witness said: “The first tourists who turned up looked very surprised to find it packed with people at such an early hour.
“But they seemed to understand what was going on when it was explained to them and they turned round and left without any fuss.”
Holidaymakers enjoying the sunshine barely had time for a dip as the crowds soon came storming inSolarpix
Solarpix
An islander supporting the protest added: “If the aim of today’s action was to reclaim the beach and denounce tourist massification, it’s certainly been acheived.
“Today Calo des Moro is definitely Majorcan.”
Anti-tourism protesters plan to bring the Balearic Islands to a standstill during the peak season for British holidaymakers.
Activists hope thousands will join the biggest demonstration yet in the Spanish tourism hotspot on Sunday, July 21 — just as many UK schools break up for summer and families head for the sunshine.
They blame the Spanish government for causing a housing and jobs crisis by sanctioning more hotels and holiday lets — and are calling on islanders from Majorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera to march in their thousands through the streets.
Organisers selected the date at a meeting called by “Menys Turisme, Mes Vida” — Less Tourism, More Life.
Anti-tourist measures sweeping hotspots
MAJORCA and Menorca are just some of the European hotspots implementing anti-tourist measures.
Many top holiday destinations across the continent are taking action to prevent unwanted travellers from taking over their towns and cities.
Locals feel they can no longer live in the iconic destinations because they have become overcrowded, unsafe and uncomfortable.
They say there are too many cars on the roads, traffic congestion, overcrowded beaches, blocked access roads, ruined beauty spots and just too many holidaymakers flocking to the island which expects record figures this summer.
In April, thousands of people took to the streets in Tenerife to demand restrictions on holidaymakers after telling Brits to “go home”.
The anti-tourist hordes filled a square in the capital brandishing banners including some that read “You enjoy we suffer” in English.
Protests also took place at the same time on other popular Canary islands including Lanzarote and Gran Canaria.
The marches were organised under the slogan “The Canary Islands have a limit.”
Hotel bosses in Benidorm have even admitted they are “very worried” by the anger growing amongst island residents but branded holiday homes in Spain a “virus”.
More recently, the Committee on Tourism, Trade, Employment, Culture and Sport reportedly approved an initiative to reintroduce a cap on cruise ships to Palma, Majorca’s capital.
Politicians are keen to implement a new set of rules on cruise ships in terms of taxation, the environment or the use of less polluting fuels to lower numbers coming into the Balearics.
It was behind a protest on May 25 that saw 15,000 people storm through Majorca’s capital Palma, jeering at travellers as they sat at dinner.
Margalida Ramis, head of affiliated group GOB Mallorca, said: “We are in contact with groups on the other islands.
“We’re hoping those who supported the recent protests in Majorca and Ibiza will take part along with others like tourist industry workers.”
She said “tourist saturation” was responsible for “job and life insecurity,” a lack of housing and “environmental and ecological issues”.
Jaume Pujol, of Fridays for Future Mallorca, added: “We want to mobilise the older people of the island who have seen how it’s been destroyed.”
Organisers hope the demo will have a similar impact to the April 20 Canary Islands protest in Tenerife which around 80,000 people joined.
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