British tourists ditch Mallorca holidays as 'hostile' protestors demand 'go home'

There's been a number of anti-tourism protests in Mallorca
-Credit: (Image: AFP via Getty Images)


Protestors demanding tourists "go home" have pushed would-be visitors to scrap their travel plans.

Known as a prime holiday spot, the Balearic island saw an unparalleled 17.8 million visitors in 2023. Mallorca has long been a hotspot for sun-seekers, though a recent rise in popularity hasn't come without issues.

In Palma, locals have been demonstrating against developers amid "rising rental costs" to meet tourist demands, reports the Daily Record.

READ MORE - Edinburgh mum 'scammed' by handyman who said his son had special needs

READ MORE - West Lothian mum told son's hearing loss 'just ear wax' by under fire medics

This sentiment has spilled out into the streets, with disdainful slogans such as "tourists go home" now adorning walls across Spanish holiday destinations, including Mallorca. Moreover, disconcerting messages like "kill a tourist" have been found graffitied in the island's east earlier this year.

These protests are having a tangible effect; travellers on the r/Mallorca subreddit have voiced concerns, with some cancelling or considering cancelling their trips.

Sign up for Edinburgh Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox

One such Reddit user expressed their decision to forgo a planned holiday to Mallorca this month in favour of Madeira, Portugal, saying: "The last thing I want to do is to go somewhere I'm not welcome. I've never been to Mallorca, it was on my list, happy to take it off."

An American tourist also voiced their concerns about visiting Mallorca due to perceived hostility towards tourists. They had planned a grand European tour "with one of the stops being Mallorca for a week". However, they're now considering changing their plans and visiting Madeira or Crete instead, after reading about the negative attitudes towards tourists.

Mallorca is known for Magaluf, but also boasts some more relaxing resorts
Mallorca is known for Magaluf, but also boasts some more relaxing resorts -Credit:Getty Images

A local resident responded to this post with a simple: "Thank you."

Earlier this year, another tourist expressed similar concerns on the r/VisitingMallorca forum, contemplating cancelling their trip. They had heard that locals were disgruntled with the influx of AirBnB apartments and tourists who weren't spending money in local bars and restaurants, opting to stay in their all-inclusive hotels instead.

However, other users reassured them that the issue was not with individual tourists but with mass tourism as a whole. One local resident explained: "Honestly it's fine. I am an immigrant living here and the over-tourism is a massive issue [...] Tourists are needed, but what's not needed is the mass tourism."

Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages

Another comment read: "I was there last week. Didn't see anything weird. Just try to learn basic commands and greetings in Spanish, it will be appreciated."

While a third user added: "Don't cancel. Haven't noticed any issues in the several days I've been here this week. Everyone is very pleasant and nice."