In a new blow to holidaymakers, furious locals have blocked streets in the popular resort of Menorca to keep out tourists.
The 195 homeowners in Binibeca Vel, nicknamed the “Spanish Mykonos”, don’t want any visitors before 11am or after 8pm as protests erupt on the neighbouring islands of Mallorca and Ibiza.
Outraged, Menorcan residents have blocked off streets with signs urging tourists to stay out. Photo: Credit: Reuters Binibeca Vel has been dubbed the “Mykonos of Spain” for its narrow alleys and whitewashed houses. Photo: Credit: Reuters The town attracts thousands of tourists every year, but residents are now fed up. Photo: Credit: Reuters In several parts of Binibeca, homeowners have set up ropes and chains to keep tourists out. Photo: Credit: Reuters
Locals have expressed frustration with tourists showing disrespect for private property by walking through doors, clambering over balconies and climbing stairs in an attempt to get the perfect photo for social media.
Known for its whitewashed cottages and winding sidewalks, Binibeca can accommodate just 500 permanent residents during the summer, but 800,000 tourists flock to its streets every year.
But recent photographs show the picturesque town almost completely deserted, with many alleys now cordoned off with ropes and chains and small circular no-entry signs.
The Telegraph reported that the chain is the town’s first anti-tourist measure before residents vote in August on whether to impose a total ban on tourists.
Oscar Monge, president of the residents’ association, accused the Menorcan government of failing to control tourism in the area, leaving residents to fend for themselves.
He said: “Binibekha is being promoted by the government and tourism companies, but what benefit do we get from it?”
“We are paying a lot to become Menorca’s strongest tourist destination.”
The residents’ association receives 25,000 euros per year from the local government to repair and repaint the exterior walls of houses in the town.
However, Monge feels this amount is not enough and is exploring strategies for the sustainable management of the area.
Riot police clash with anti-tourist protesters in Barcelona at a Louis Vuitton fashion show. As holiday anger spreads across Spain, thousands of people took to the streets of Mallorca on Saturday to protest “over-tourism” in the Spanish paradise. Photo by Solarpix Angry locals say tourist overcrowding is ruining Mallorca. Photo by Solarpix A protester holds an “SOS Residents” sign during Saturday’s demonstration. Photo by Solarpix
“It’s outrageous that local tourism politicians are saying the only way to keep this place clean is to close it down, privatise it or charge for it,” he said.
The Balearic Islands are home to 1.2 million permanent residents and include the small island of Menorca, next to the popular tourist destinations of Mallorca and Ibiza.
About 18 million tourists are expected to visit the islands in 2023, the highest number ever recorded for the archipelago.
Of these, 14.4 million were foreign tourists, the majority of whom were Germans and British.
Menorca has become the latest Spanish destination to see anti-tourist signs and demonstrations, following a string of protests in Mallorca, Ibiza, Tenerife and other Canary Islands over the past month.
Brits heading to Ibiza this bank holiday weekend were in for major disruption as hundreds of people were expected to take to the streets in anti-tourist protests.
Organisers of the Ibiza protest, a group called Prou Eivissa, met with Ibiza’s President Vicente Mari before taking to the streets.
Their demands include limiting the number of vehicles allowed on the island in summer and banning the use of taxpayers’ money to promote Ibiza as a tourist destination.
Those hoping to relax in Mallorca would have also faced carnage, as thousands flocked to the hotspot in protest, some causing chaos at the island’s busy airport.
A main focus of the protests will be the rising prices of holiday rentals, which are making it difficult for locals to buy or rent a home in Mallorca.
But protesters will also focus on other aspects of tourist overload which they say is ruining Mallorca.
Violent clashes broke out between riot police and anti-tourist protesters outside a Louis Vuitton fashion show in Barcelona on Friday.
The protests were the latest since April 20 when thousands of people took to the streets in the Canary Islands to oppose mass tourism and demand that politicians take action.
Fanatics in Tenerife were said to have been carrying banners reading “You are having fun, we are suffering” and “No tourism now”.
Local authorities said around 30,000 people took part in the demonstration, while organisers put the figure at 80,000.
Residents say they are tired of foreigners “ruining” their homeland. Credit: AlamyEvery summer, thousands of holidaymakers, mostly British and German, flock to Spain’s coasts and its islands. Credit: AlamyEarlier this year, anti-tourism graffiti was spotted in Barcelona. Credit: RexResidents of the Canary Islands say their standard of living is falling because of the current tourism model. Credit: Canary Weekly
Tourist measures sweep hot spots
Menorca and Mallorca are just a few of the European hotspots that have implemented restrictive measures for tourists.
Many popular tourist destinations across the continent are taking measures to prevent unwanted tourists from taking over towns and cities.
Locals feel they can no longer live in the iconic tourist destination as it has become overcrowded, unsafe and unwelcoming.
They say there are too many cars on the roads, traffic jams, crowded beaches, closed access roads, beautiful sites ruined and too many holidaymakers flocking to the island, which is expected to see record numbers this summer.
In April, thousands of people took to the streets in Tenerife, calling for restrictions on holidaymakers after urging Britons to “go home”.
Anti-tourist crowds filled a square in the capital, waving banners including one that read in English: “You enjoy, we suffer.”
Protests also took place around the same time in other popular Canary Islands, including Lanzarote and Gran Canaria.
The march was organised under the slogan “The Canary Islands have their limits”.
Hoteliers in Benidorm even admitted they were “very worried” about growing anger among islanders, who labelled the Spanish villas “the virus”.
More recently, the Tourism, Trade, Employment, Culture and Sport Committee has reportedly approved a proposal to reintroduce restrictions on cruise ship access to Palma, the capital of Mallorca.
Politicians are keen to introduce a set of new cruise ship rules on taxation, the environment and the use of less polluting fuel in order to reduce the number of cruise ships coming to the Balearic Islands.
