New protests planned for this weekend
A leading tourism professor at a US university says anti-tourism protests in Mallorca and across Spain could have a lasting impact on the tourism industry. His warning comes as Mallorca prepares for another protest due to take place in Palma on Sunday.
Amanda Bellamino, a professor of hospitality at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and an expert on consumer behavior and tourism, was quoted as saying by British media: “Certainly, there is reason to believe that these protests will be successful in suppressing tourism. Tourists generally try to avoid areas where there is political unrest or protest,” she said. But she added that she believes “the damage has already been done and many people will no longer choose these places for their holidays.”
So far the Balearic islands’ tourism industry has denied claims that the protests could hit holiday bookings, but the hotel federation has warned that the drop in bookings is due to the European football championships and bad weather in Mallorca so far this summer.
The only warning so far about Mallorca’s summer season has come from the Bar and Restaurant Association, which reported a 20 percent drop in sales in June. Airport figures suggest the island is heading for a strong season.
It is unclear how many people will take part in protests in the streets of Parma on Sunday, but organizers said they have solid support. They also stressed that the protests are not just against mass tourism but also against a lack of affordable housing.
