Menorca town dubbed ‘Spain’s Mykonos’ holds referendum on BANNING tourists after being ‘trapped’ in homes by influencers

3 months ago 2

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FED-UP locals at a popular Menorca town will hold a referendum on banning tourists in the latest blow against holidaymakers.

The 195 homeowners of Binibeca Vell, dubbed “Spain‘s Mykonos“, say they are tired of being “trapped” inside their own homes as selfie-seeking influencers take over their town.

a group of people walking down a street in front of a building that says ' a ' on it

Locals in Binibeca Vell are furious with tourists flooding their village[/caption]

a man taking a picture of a woman in front of a building with the number 201 on it

Residents said they’re tired of being ‘trapped’ inside their own homes as noisy holidaymakers overrun their streets[/caption]

a narrow alleyway with a sign that says no dogs

The fuming locals previously took to chaining up the 22 entrances into the town[/caption]

a woman taking a picture of a white house

They also didn’t want any selfie-hunting visitors before 11am or after 8pm[/caption]

Residents had previously resorted to chaining up all 22 entrances to the idyllic fishermen’s village in a desperate bid to keep tourists away.

They said they did not want any visitors before 11am and after 8pm roaming around their private roads.

But they will take matters one step further on Friday as they will vote on whether to completely ban all tourists from Binibeca Vell.

Locals have been voicing complaints about tourists disrespecting private property by going through their doors, scaling balconies, and climbing stairs in an attempt to get the perfect social media snap.

Resident Edoardo Gomez, 31, told The Telegraph: “There’ll be a person posing for a photo.

“And as soon as they’re done, another one steps forward.”

“The tourists touch everything.

“One of our neighbours has lots of plants in pots and the tourists move them so that they can get a better photo. They sit in chairs on private verandas.

He continued: “They talk loudly and the noise reverberates because the village is very small and enclosed.

three women looking at a cell phone on a cobblestone street

The 195 homeowners in Binibeca Vell will now vote on whether to completely ban tourists from their town[/caption]

a white car is parked in front of a row of white houses

The idyllic village in Menorca was dubbed ‘Spanish Mykonos’ for its resemblance to the Greek island[/caption]

an aerial view of a beach with the word memorial written in the sand

Friday’s referendum is the latest anti-tourism blow against holidaymakers[/caption]

“They sit on steps and when the owner asks them to move, they refuse because they’re trying to get the perfect photo.”

Known for its whitewashed cottages and winding walkways, Binibeca can only accommodate 500 permanent residents in the summer, but every year 800,000 tourists cram into its alleyways.

But pictures now show the picturesque town almost completely deserted, as many of its alleyways have ropes and chains with a small round sign indicating not to trespass.

Disgruntled residents have begun to posting images of tourists mistreating their private residences on the village website.

One photo shows a tourist sprawled out on a stairwell, while another shows someone scaling a balcony.

Online, tourists are asked to “avoid uncivic attitudes” by not “visiting the houses or climbing staircases or balconies” and to “use the bins and maintain the walls white” in order to contribute to the village’s cleanliness.

Business owners who depend significantly on the trade from visitors coming to the town are concerned that a complete ban would be a bad call for them.

The president of the Binibeca Vell Community of Property Owners, Oscar Monge, said visitors are welcome and that the new regulations are not intended to negatively impact anyone’s ability to make a living.

Mr Monge also claimed that the island council last ruined a municipal agreement allowing visitors to enter Binibeca Vell by neglecting to control bus influx and taking away a €15,000 grant for trash cleanup.

He said: “We pay dearly for being the most popular tourist attraction in Menorca.

“Binibeca is promoted by the island administration and the tourism companies, but what benefit do we get out of it?

“We don’t have anything against tourism, but sometimes it feels like we’re living in Disneyland Paris.”

a crowd of people holding a sign that says si ens negueuen el sostre

Thousands have taken to the streets of Majorca earlier this year to protest against ‘over-tourism’ in the Spanish paradise[/caption]

a group of shirtless men are posing for a picture on the beach

Residents across Spain say they’re fed up with foreigners ‘ruining’ their hometowns[/caption]

People walk past graffiti against tourism reading 'Tourist go home'

a map that says no more tourists sunny holiday hotspots are protesting over the high number of tourists

ANTI-TOURISM PROTESTS

There are 1.2 million permanent people in the Balearic Islands, which are home to Menorca, the small neighbour of popular tourist destinations Majorca and Ibiza.

In 2023, the islands saw about 18 million tourists arrive, hitting a record for the archipelago.

And 14.4 million of these were foreign visitors, the majority of whom were Germans and Brits.

Menorca is one the many Spanish destinations to see anti-tourist signs and demonstrations, following on from Majorca, Ibiza, Barcelona, and the Canary Islands over the past months.

Locals have also slammed unruly tourists and previously branded Brits as “low-quality” tourists who “drink cheap beer, lay in the sun and eat burgers and chips”.

Bitter grafitti has been posted on walls across Majorca – and other Spanish hotspots – urging tourists to “go home”.

Locals have even threatened to block the island’s airports and protest outside hotels.

Tourism company TUI previously declared the Balearic Islands had “reached capacity” and asked holidaymakers to look elsewhere when booking their next holiday.

Anti-tourist measures sweeping hotspots

MENORCA and Majorca 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.

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