Magaluf slashes RED ZONE where booze deals were banned after party town left ‘half empty’ in crackdown on Brit revellers

SPANISH tourist hub Magaluf has slashed the Red Zone that was marked by restrictive booze laws set to limit rowdy Brit revellers.

The Balearic government’s decision to reduce the prohibited area comes as the party town became “half empty” after weeks of anti-tourism protests.

British holidaymakers drinking at a bar in Costa Blanca, Spain

Young Brit tourists covered in foam while enjoying a holiday on the Spanish island

Anti-tourist protesters have been taking to the streets across Spanish holiday hotspots

Authorities previously introduced toughened-up restrictions in the sunny holiday hotspot to stamp out tourist bad behaviour.

News rules including a “total ban of the sale of alcohol between 9.30pm and 8am” in shops in areas of excessive tourism were approved just last month.

However, amid the raging anti-tourism protests in the Balearic Islands, the number of tourists visiting the holiday islands has reduced drastically – affecting the local economy.

This forced the lawmakers to reduce the restrictive area to almost 90 per cent.

Spanish lawmakers who proposed to slash said: “[We are] defending tourism businesses against the attempts of the socialists to damage the image of the municipality.

“The town hall is committed to positioning Magalluf as a safe and quality tourist destination. The socialists want to maintain the stigmatisation of bars, restaurants and supermarkets, causing a large area to be harmed.”

There has been a dramatic drop in tourists visiting the popular holiday hotspot, so much so that the town was said to be “half empty”,  Majorca Daily Bulletin reports.

However, many Spanish politicians have criticised the decision to reduce the area of Magaluf.

Alfonso Rodriguez, former mayor of Calvia, said it sent out the wrong message in the fight against boozy tourists and could lead to things worsening.

He added: “We believe that this is going in a different direction to the one we were committing to, where we were asking for cooperation from the entire tourist industry and the public sector to combat the excesses we were seeing.

“The last tourist seasons have been successful, both 2022 and 2023, and I fear that modifying this zoning could send a message in the opposite direction to the one we were heading in.”

The toughened-up regional government restrictions were announced last month to curb some of the worst tourist-hit areas in parts of Majorca and Ibiza.

The new rules included a prohibition on organising drinking parties in communal spaces – and bans on graffiti, riding scooters and displaying nudism.

Jaime Martínez, mayor of Mallorca’s capital, Palma, said that these laws will help them “correct uncivil attitudes” that are often displayed by tourists in the city.

Even Britain backed the Spanish crackdown on boozy tourists, hailing new holiday rules as “perfectly logical”.

Hugh Elliott, the UK’s ambassador to Spain, urged British holidaymakers to “show responsibility” and act as “guests” while visiting the party resorts of the Balearic Islands.

The Spanish holiday hotspot is now determined to find ways to curb mass tourism.

Member of Palma XXI association Jaume Garau said: “There is a general feeling that we’ve gone too far and have to turn back.”

Speaking during a presentation for an upcoming congress on tourism to be held by the Civil Society Forum, Garau stressed the issues the Balearic islands are facing due to the high number of tourists.

He explained that the purpose of the congress is to prepare a proposal, alongside locals and civil associations, to establish a sustainable tourism model.

He warned: “There will come a time when people here won’t be able to go anywhere.”

A wave of anti-tourism protests has erupted across multiple European holiday hotspots as locals call for an end to “low quality” tourism.

Residents complain of shameful acts by tourists such as the display of nudity and frequent violent brawls after getting drunk.

A tourist was seen walking in Majorca wearing only a pair of swimming trunks

A group of tourists was seen around in Palma wearing just bikinis

Another tourist was found wearing nothing but a pair of trainers and a hat while cycling around Lanzarote

Locals say they are “fed-up” with Brits who only come for the cheap beer, burgers and sunbathing.

Just a few days ago, a drunk Brit tourist sparked chaos after blocking a busy road in Menorca – twice on the same day.

Dramatic footage caught the man taking a casual stroll in the middle of the street forcing busy traffic to stop.

The drunk Brit was seen lifting his arms in the air with his trainers in his hands as he walked along the tarmac in shorts and a shirt.

And a group of nearly-naked tourists left locals stunned as they strolled around Majorca wearing very little.

The holidaymakers were filmed walking around Palma wearing only their bikinis after getting off one of the party boats in the area.

Harsh anti-tourist graffiti has appeared on walls in popular hotspots in Greece and Spain, urging holidaymakers to “go home”.

Demonstrators flocked to Majorcan beaches over the weekend in yet another display of locals’ discontent with holidaymakers and mass tourism.

Protesters are also preparing to hit the streets of Malaga in less than a month.

They have planned a march on June 29 with the slogan: “For decent housing and against the processes of touristification and precariousness of life.”

Frustrated locals in Malaga claim they are being priced out of their own neighbourhoods – and more properties are being converted into hotels and tourist rentals offering short stays to visiting foreigners.

Others said the city has become “unlivable”.

Post-pandemic, a large number of remote workers have been moving to Spain for a cheaper cost of living, The Local reports.

And expats are often earning higher wages than locals – leaving them struggling to compete.

Thousands took to the streets in Tenerife last month to demand restrictions on holidaymakers.

More than 15,000 people waved Canary Islands’ flags and blew horns to make a deafening noise in the capital Santa Cruz.

Messages in English left on walls and benches in and around the island read “My misery your paradise” and “Average salary in Canary Islands is 1,200 euros.”

But the Canary Islands president Fernando Clavijo expressed his concern over the growing anti-tourism movement and begged holidaymakers to keep coming.

One protester holds a placard which reads: ‘SOS residents’

As many as 10,000 people demanded limits on the number of visitors allowed in Majorca

Thousands of people demonstrate against tourism policies in Tenerife

Hostile messages against foreigners can be found on the walls