Mayor of Spanish holiday hotspot warns of ‘zero tolerance’ crackdown on boozy Brits in latest anti-tourism backlash
THE mayor of a Spanish holiday hotspot has warned of a “zero tolerance” crackdown on boozy Brits in the latest anti-tourism backlash.
Juan Antonio Amengual said Magaluf will attempt to stamp out the binge-drinking, drug dealing and prostitution that has cast a dark shadow over the party town for decades.
UK holidaymakers descend on the Spanish island of Majorca in their thousands each summer to soak up the sun, enjoy the beaches and guzzle the cheap booze.
But raucous Brits have built themselves a bad reputation with locals, in particular, for their loutish behaviour down the years.
But while Mayor Amengual, who is the head of Calvia – a district which includes Magaluf – insists that the resort is welcoming to Brits abroad, he said holidaymakers must behave themselves.
He told the Daily Mail: “In your country, you cannot urinate in the street, walk around with alcohol, drinking as if there is no tomorrow or being half naked, and the message is that it’s the same here.
“Of course, all tourists are welcome to Majorca, but we are asking them to behave like they do at home.
“Take care of our people and the environment. Tourists have been coming to Mallorca for the last 60 years.
“It’s our main industry, and we want to serve and to give our best face to the tourists. And the tourists will be always welcome to Majorca.”
Brits abroad have finally gone a step too far for many residents of Spain and its neighbouring islands, with anti-tourism protests running rife in the build-up to summer.
The likes of Majorca, Ibiza, Tenerife and Gran Canaria have been flooded with demonstrations demanding things change.
They claim they are being priced out of the property market and that boozy British tourists are making their lives hell.
Just last week, anti-tourism zealots stormed an Instagram-famous Majorca beach to “reclaim” the postcard cove from foreigners by taking up every inch of space on the tiny 130ft stretch of sand.
Holidaymakers trying to get an early spot on the sand were barely able to lay down their towels as Spanish cops were forced to turn them away.
It followed a protest on May 25 that saw 15,000 people storm through Majorca’s capital Palma, jeering at travellers as they sat at dinner.
Activists now hope that thousands will join the biggest demonstration yet in the Spanish tourism hotspot on Sunday, July 21 — just as many UK schools break up for summer and families head for the sunshine.
However, Mr Amengual, a former tour guide himself, has wanted to send a more nuanced message, acknowledging that Magaluf depends on the income of British visitors.
But he stressed that the island prefers “quality to quantity” when it comes to tourists, preferring well-behaved families with children rather than intoxicated stag and hen parties.
“The street is not a bar,” he told the Daily Mail. “If you want to drink, you go to a bar, not the street.”
While some protesters agree in part with Mr Amengual in that they are not against tourism, others are determined to rid of those “invading” their home.
New rules in the Balearic Islands
THE Spanish government has some strict rules in place for those visiting Majorca, Minorca and Ibiza.
Certain restaurants have dress codes, banning tops without straps, swimwear or football kits.
Holidaymakers can also be fined for walking around topless or in a state of undress while not on the beach.
You could even get into trouble for driving topless.
At some hotels, men might have to wear proper trousers for dinner.
Authorities in Majorca are cracking down on tourists by imposing fresh bans on drinking on the streets and graffiti.
Any tourist breaching the new rules could be slapped with a fine of £1,300.
The penalty can be increased up to £2,600, in case the grounds of the offence are more serious.
Fines for graffiti, vandalism and loud slogans have also been increased to £2,600.
If minors are found to commit graffiti vandalism, their parents will be held responsible – and will be forced to pay the fine.
Flooding the streets with banners, posters and advertising brochures is now prohibited.
Destroying listed buildings, monuments, and other important public areas would be considered a serious offence – and could attract fines of up to £2,600.
In fact, things have become so toxic between locals and tourists that one vile anti-holidaymaker group has begun mocking people who have died on the island.
That includes tallying up the number of deaths around resorts in Majorca in which people have plummeted from hotel balconies.
Maguluf has already taken measures to ensure things are more controlled in the holiday hotspot this summer.
Earlier this month, police reinforcements were drafted in to help the island brace for boozy England fans flooding to the sunny location ahead of the Euros.
Officials confirmed they are “intensifying their efforts” to keep the public safe with extra cops on patrol during all England ties.
It came after the UK’s ambassador to Spain urged Brits in Magaluf to “show responsibility” as tensions boil over their alcohol-fuelled antics.
Hugh Elliott said Brits have to remember they are guests during their time in the party resort, as they’re accused of “drinking cheap beer” and being “low quality”.
Magaluf did previously introduce a Red Zone marked by restrictive booze laws to limit rowdy Brit revellers – before making a U-turn not long after.
The Balearic government’s decision to reduce the prohibited area comes as the party town became “half empty” after weeks of anti-tourism protests.
Anti-tourist measures sweeping hotspots
A WAVE of anti-tourist measures are being implemented across Europe to curb mass tourism in popular holiday hotspots.
Officials have attempted to reduce the impact of holidaymakers by implementing additional taxes on tourists, or banning new hotels.
Earlier this year Venice became the first city in the world to charge an entry fee for holidaymakers after it started charging day-trippers €5 (£4.30) for visiting the historical city centre.
It was followed by an area in Barcelona which resorted to removing a well-used bus route from Apple and Google Maps to stop crowds of tourists from using the bus.
Meanwhile, San Sebastián in the north of Spain, limited the maximum number of people on guided visits to 25 to avoid congestion, noise, nuisance and overcrowding.
The city has already banned the construction of new hotels.
The Spanish government has allowed restaurants to charge customers more for sitting in the shade in Andalucia.
Benidorm has introduced time restrictions – swimming in the sea between midnight and 7am could cost a whopping £1,000.
The Canary Islands are also considering adopting measures to regulate the number of visitors and charge tourists a daily tax.
Greece has already enforced a tourist tax during the high season (from March to October) with visitors expected to pay from €1 (£0.86) to €4 (£3.45) per night, depending on the booked accommodation.
Officials in Santiago de Compostela in Galicia want to introduce a fee for travellers to remind people to be courteous during their trips.