Is anybody avoiding booking holidays to Spain due to the demonstrations?

[SmileLady]

I added this on holidays board but no responses yet...

Just wanted some advice. I have only been to Spain 3 times in my 46 years. Times 1 &2 were educational trips when I was a student. But last year as a family we went to Mallorca for the first time in October and really enjoyed it. We stayed in a hotel, rented a car and did loads of day trips. The weather was terrible but we made the most of it.

We are a family of 7 (2 adult children, 3 younger kids, and us, of course). However, we are being put off by the demonstrations. We thought this time, we could maybe fly into Madrid, spend a few days in a B&B seeing the sites, and maybe get a train to Valencia and stay somewhere for a few days. Older children may not come straight with us, depending on work/sports.

However, DH now says we should respect the Spanish and not go if they don't want tourists.

Just to clarify, our ethnic origin is a very popular tourist island in the Med, and DH and I grew up working in the tourist industry, as did both our families. So I have seen the effect of limited tourism on the economy of an area.

Anyway, am I mad to still plan this trip?

We're just back from Salou this week and found it very welcoming. No issues at immigration (we have a range of different surnames and nationalities too)
No protests while we were there

How much of it is reality and how much is it the likes of GB News trying to whip up everyone hates rhetoric?

I hope so! It is in a remote area, central, and a good place to explore the island from. I hope there wouldn't be any hostility around shops, supermarkets, markets and restaurants from locals.

Just come back from Mallorca, didn't see or experience anything negative. Even during the Euro final.

Absolutely not. The owner is Spanish and lives there. She is probably related everyone! This sort of tourist they love.

My parents live in Spain, albeit one is a national… but it’s perfectly fine. It’s being blown massively out of proportion. Valencia and Madrid should be fine. Tenerife is the worst apparently

Going to Mijas pueblo in September. Had many lovely breaks/holidays there previously, so don’t expect it to be any different 🙏

My neice lives there (or very close) it is absolutely fine.

My internet kept giving me stories about protests in Mallorca just before we were due to fly there.
We went and it was fine, lovely actually.
We stayed in a hotel complex and ate lunch and dinner out and spent at markets etc to put money into their economy.

I did wonder how their water supply copes with so many tourist though, as it's such a dry island. I did a bit of research and it does have issues with water supply due to so much tourism so not sure about going back sadly.

Thank you @BlackStrayCat I feel my family will almost need to justify where they're staying when out further a field. When you say air bnb, people automatically assume a company such as Solmar Villas etc.
Dh is saying it puts money back into the economy just as it would do in a hotel because the lady will pay taxes etc. She is choosing to do this with her home. It isn't the same as acompany snatching up a load of affordable homes locals could have. I just feel guilty about the locals!! We live in a crazy world. I'm an overthinker!

Exactly @SweetCreamandCaramel you/they will have a great time.

How would a protestor know they were targeting a tourist staying in an air BnB or a hotel…

We always stay in hotels. There were similar protests in Greece recently but we felt very welcome. It is rare to be affected.

I love Spain but I only stay in Hotels or Bed and Breakfasts places. I avoid all inclusive places. I tend to avoid the big tourist resorts as I want to experience Spain rather than Btits on holiday. Never had any problems in the cities either. Just back from Seville with friends

I have found Cornwall can be rather anti tourist as they experience the same problems with accommodation.

The last twice I took visitors into London they were terrified of the demonstrations.

Us too.

Oh good! I might find some last minute bargains.

Part of this isn't just about tourists and airbnb etc- part is about non locals buying up property that used to be rented out to locals- or even bought by locals and knocking it down and building big glass scandi style boxes- this def isn't all about the British- it's actually mainly Germans and Scandinavians buying up the property - particularly in Majorca- an expat German who has been out there years was explaining this to me - similar situation to what we have in UK in places like Cornwall etc

From what I can gather from the news, it's also a demonstration about the lack of houses and jobs for the local people and their children,
but surely if tourism goes completely, that will only make things worse for those who work in hospitality?
They do levy a tourist tax in the hotels which must help a bit , but things like having enough water must be a worry.
I know it's probably more complex than this, but it feels a bit cutting off your nose to spite your face if it makes people go elsewhere. Although I know that many areas don't like tourists.
Not sure what the answer is really and I can imagine some places are fed up with rowdy people from other countries ( it's not always 'the Brits 'either.)

Yes. Mostly Germans are buying up in my town. No British people (since EU regs)

It is not anti British. It is very like the Cornwall situation PP is right. (Not if it is a local person renting out next door though!)

Loads of people from Madrid where I live,loads, they have bought up the local flats on the beach and come down for the whole summer.

I’m about to book flights to Barcelona in September, actually to stay with friends who are there for 3 months for work and so have a short term lease 😬

ah well, it’s not something I can see myself getting stressed about tbh, not if it’s just a bit of shouting/water.

i do sympathise with their cause though

Yes, I am. I’m rethinking the whole tourist thing actually. Already don’t go to destination places (eg we go to France, or Wales, but right out in the sticks). Barcelona or Majorca isn’t getting my holiday custom anyway because too busy and too hot, but it definitely makes me more determined to be as mindful and considerate as possible about taking holidays away from home.

We’re in Sitges at the moment, have a really nice time as we usually would. For the first time in a very long time I wasn’t ‘randomly’ selected for an interview with all the other brown men with beards.

@the80sweregreat there are too many tourists for their size. They do need a reduction.

I am booked to go to Palma in August already. I am not worried as such, but probably won’t again as so many other places to holiday. I wouldn’t select places where there are anti tourist demonstrations again. Airbnb is not legal on Majorca, so we always stay in hotel or aparthotels.

I am not British and I notice a huge difference when I go on holiday with my family and speak English or with my friends home and don’t speak English in 2 countries - Spain and France. This is not new.

There's more to Spain than the Costas and islands. Visit a large city - Seville, Valencia, Granada and they are beautiful.

I call area outside Costas and islands as proper Spain.