In response to the rising anti “mass tourism” feeling across Spain which has seen protests here in the Canary Islands, the Balearics, and cities in the mainland, the first pro-tourism rally has taken place in Majorca.
The Association of Food, Beverage, and Cleaning Distribution Companies (ADED) in the Balearic Islands has launched a campaign in support of the tourism sector, voicing concerns over increasing tensions and negative attitudes towards visitors.
The campaign comes at a time when some locals have expressed frustration with the impact of mass tourism on the islands. However, ADED argues that these actions, which in some cases have led to some minor aggression towards tourists, could have detrimental effects on the region's vital tourism industry.
The association challenges critics by asking, "Would you go on holiday to a destination where you are made to feel unwelcome and have to deal with such situations?"
ADED also highlights the economic dependency of the Balearic Islands on tourism, urging those opposing the industry to consider whether anyone in their community is unaffected by it, either directly or indirectly.
While the association acknowledges that there are issues within the tourism sector that need to be addressed, they stress that their argument is with the government not with the people coming to the islands on holiday.
They have issued a warning sating that escalating tensions and rejecting tourists could lead to severe economic consequences, reminiscent of the downturn experienced during the 2020/21 period in the pandemic when there was zero tourism.
The campaign aims to encourage a more balanced discussion about tourism's role in the Balearic Islands, emphasising the importance of the industry while also recognising the need for sustainable practices.
This situation is something that has reared its head in the Canary Islands as well when the ‘Tourists Go Home’ slogans were used to get press coverage for the 20A demonstrations in April. However, it looks as though some sensibility is coming into play at last, let’s hope it spreads across Spain to here.
