Tourists could be banned from Spanish beaches locals warn have become 'theme parks'

Brits heading for Majorcathis summer face being "confined" to beaches as protesters call for resident-only spots.

Majorca Platja Tour has announced the first "symbolic occupation" of a beach in Spainthis summer, in a bid to preserve the area's most beautiful coastal destinations from being overrun by tourists. "Prepare your towels, umbrellas and banners, because we will be making a new symbolic occupation on a beach in Majorca," announced the movement.

A date for the protest has not been announced.

The protests will echo those of last summer, carried out at Platja de Palma—one of the best beaches in the capital—and Caló des Moro, a stunning beach located in the southeast of Majorca, featuring 40 metres of fine-grained sand surrounded by cliffs.

The protesters say beaches in Majorca are so packed with tourists that locals avoid them in the summer. They want holidaymakers either banned from certain beaches or for areas to be designated for local residents only, not tourists.

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The movement demands that the citizens of the islands be able to enjoy the beaches in summer—a situation that, according to critics, is currently impossible because the beaches are overcrowded. "What used to be a corner of peace becomes a theme park," they claim.

They say the beach at Platja de Palma is a prime example: "There is no area that better represents the overcrowded Majorca than this one." The campaigners are calling for a census or registry to be introduced so that only certain people can access beaches at certain times.

Mallorca Platja Tour has called on neighbourhood, cultural, and environmental associations—as well as political parties "committed to Mallorca"—to join the initiative. "There is nothing more Majorcan than spending a day on the beaches," they said in a statement.

The group highlighted the Municipality of Ameglia in North East Italy, where 60% of the beaches are kept for local residents.

Ameglia Emanuele Cadeddu, despite mayor of the Italian region,said in 2020: "We do not want to give up tourism, which is the basis of our economic fabric. Doing so would mean closing or putting in difficulty the countless activities present in our area, but we expect maximum respect for the rules both from our fellow citizens, to whom we will reserve and guarantee an adequate number of spaces in the amount of 60 percent of the beaches, and from the tourists who will arrive in the Ameglia area”.

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Road routes to many beaches in Majorca are frequently clogged with traffic during the high season, with hundreds of cars parked on sandbanks.

Majorca is in the grip of mass tourism protests, with large crowds of placard-wearing campaigners taking to the streets earlier this month.

The Balearic Islands have received more than 4.3 million international passengers between January and May of this year, representing an increase of 4.8% compared to the same period last year, according to data published on Wednesday by Turespaña.

Bookings have slumped in parts of Majorca in recent months. The Alcudia and Can Picafort hoteliers association has sounded the alarm that bookings on the island are down on last year, especially among travellers from Germany, their principal markets. Bar and restaurant takings were down by between 15 and 20 percent compared to last year, which is a significant blow for an industry already struggling.

The president of the Association, Pablo Riera-Marsa, said: "We are seeing how the German market, traditionally our number one market, is the one that has slowed down the most. In addition, we are detecting that this season, last-minute bookings are once again becoming more popular, with tourists waiting for special offers and promotions before making their purchase decisions."