As the cash registers in Spain are being braced for a record influx of tourists this year, tensions are beginning to be felt in parts of the country.
“Tourists go home” graffiti in Palma de Mallorca has abounded. The island annually hosts million of foreign visitors. Last August saw one day when the population nearly doubled, hitting a record two million.
Tourism accounts for 12% of economic output and 16% of jobs across the nation, but in the Balearic islands nearly a third of employment depends on it. The sector accounts for nearly 50% of the economy there, more than in any other region. That economy finally has struggled back to its pre-crisis level after five years.
But some local residents are concerned about the strain such large numbers can put on services such as transport, water and medical.
And they are uneasy about the disruption to their lives. After Palma’s council banned parking near the cathedral, many families in the area have had to drive through the tourist-thronged narrow streets to find alternative spaces.
The arrival of thousands of cruise ship passengers further cramp the city.
Knowing that resources on the islands are finite, a number of residents are questioning there should be a finite number of visitors.
Amidst concerns that whole neighbourhoods could become holiday lets, and associated drunk and disorderly behaviour rise, citizens question the wisdom of continued growth and heavy reliance on one source of income.
Local authorities are considering capping accommodation for tourists, according to local tourism minister Biel Barcelo, but it also seems likely that a new €2 per night tax will be imposed on overnight stays. The tax, he said, aims to bring in between €50 million and €70 million a year mainly for environmental projects.
But not everyone is happy with the idea of tourism controls, among them travel firms and hoteliers as well as taxi drivers and souvenir vendors.
