Protests in Mallorca - enough to put you off?

[Vopik]

Friends have found a nice air BnB in Mallorca. But given everything that is going on there with protests I would feel very uncomfortable. Dh is saying that I need to let it go but what’s the point of spending money if I will be feeling like my presence is unwanted.

Doubt they can afford to go anywhere

I will be avoiding the Balearics and the Canaries until this settles down.

Well getting properties back is exactly what they want so they have gone the right away about achieving their goals tbf.

I have friends who live in Mallorca and yes there are some protests in some areas. Not aimed at British tourists in particular, more over, unsustainable tourism in general and the massive impact it’s having on residents.

I do see their point to be honest, I live in a tourist hot spot in the UK and we’re experiencing many of the problems they are - a massive lack of (stupidly) expensive housing due to short-term lets and AirBnBs meaning hundreds of families are living in unsuitable B&B accommodation, we’re struggling to recruit doctors, teachers, social workers, etc as there is no where for them to live. Insecure, zero hours jobs meaning locals are priced out of the area. We do rely on tourism to a point but there is a balance, and Covid tipped that balance.

I would still go, but would look a lot more carefully into where I was spending money.

I've spent 2 weeks in Mallorca every year for the last 10 years and have just returned from this years annual trip this weekend. Didn't experience or see any protests in Palma or the north east of the island where we stay. Had a lovely time, emercing ourselves in the Mallorcan culture, and the locals were very welcoming and friendly. Brush up on your Spanish (or at least attempt some), don't get pissed/rowdy, spend your money locally and avoid the more 'touristy' areas. You'll be fine.

Well we’re going on Tuesday, it’s been booked for a year, and if we spot a protest we’ll steer clear. If you read the travel forums, and hear from people who are already there, it’s just the occasional bit of disruption.

We're looking to do a long weekend break in Europe shortly. Majorca was my first thought. Would I chuff go there at the moment! Some of it certainly is aimed at tourists if the "Tourist bastards go home" banners are anything to go by.
We are always well-behaved and respectful when we visit other countries. We spend a fair bit of money which will boost their economy.
We will spend it elsewhere this year.

I live in Cornwall and am very much not against tourists, and neither is anyone else I know. It's a lazy trope.

It would be insane and idiotic for me to be anti tourists as I am quite regularly a tourist myself. I particularly like going to Majorca.

But if there are empty holiday homes in those towns and villages, that doesn't help

That was my point earlier, people who are lucky enough to live in these gorgeous holiday destinations do indeed sometimes on holiday themselves

Not even the ones renting out their own properties?

If everyone in the UK wanted to leave Europe the vote would have been 100% not 54%!

I live in the Canaries and we recently had much publicity in the British press about protests against tourists and them not being welcome. In reality it was a protest against the government because of lack of affordable housing for locals and no infrastructure increase to accommodate a higher number of visitors etc. There are a couple of bits of graffiti here and there but no evidence whatsoever of hostility to tourists. The British press love a sensational headline and twisting the truth to fit their agenda

They can have their properties back and rent them to their own unpaying tenants all they want as far as I am concerned. Consequently, when I bought it, you could get one for 30k and, honestly, there were no queues of locals snapping them up even at that price. I also used to let to locals, as I mentioned and well below going rate at the time as I just wanted someone to look after the property while I was preparing to move there permanently (life took a different turn, unfortunately). And guess what, people would rather pour silicone into drains and move out with my washing machine than enjoy long-term low cost rental. Their choice, I don't care. I just took it off the market instead.
The point of my comment wasn't that. I commented on the overall attitude to tourists, not to property owners. And in the last 15 years, this was the first time when I though I'd rather not go there anymore.

Lack of affordable housing for locals is one result of mass short term lettings and AirBnB type properties, which otherwise would be available to local people.

As I said earlier, the Mallorcan (and other) governments/councils could limit holiday accommodation to hotels and apartments within hotel complexes, and ban other short term lets.

Hi de Hi!

You know that the op voted to leave the EU?
That's quite impressive.

FFS .......some -idiots- people voted for the UK to leave the EU.

The EU isn't Europe.....we'd have a bloody hard time quitting Europe 😂

@OP - I've just come back from Mallorca and found it as friendly as usual, don't worry it's not on the FCO list of places to stay away from.

Wtf - you do realise it was only just over half of voting aged people who voted to leave the EU. It's not like it was a landslide. I 100% didn't want to so you can take your bigoted comments elsewhere.

I live there. Haven't seen any protests myself yet. Beaches are generally busy, but no rioting that I, or any of my friends have seen. It's a beautiful place to go.

I wouldn't be put off. However, I have stopped using Air BnB and similar holiday lets as a conscious decision.

Yeah, mine got deleted for saying they seemed a little less than bright. And yet ones swearing at them still stand. Has MN gone mad?!

What??

We got back from Mallorca last week.

Didn't notice anything and zero difference to any previous visits.

I have recently come back from a canary island. First time visiting and whilst there was a lot to love, it felt that there was no identity. Just hotel after hotel, mostly AI. Very few shops, cafes or restaurants.

I can see why residents want more sustainability and moderation. I think the area will always rely on tourism, but, maybe there are better ways of doing things.