British tourists in Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza ‘mockered’ and warned to ‘go home’

Mallorca’s Brits were jeered over their Euro 2024 final defeat to Spain – as protests swept the holiday island this weekend. Under the slogan “Let’s change the course and put limits on tourism”, the demonstrators gathered in the streets of Palma on Sunday evening.

“Your luxury, our misery,” read one sign, while another placard read: “This isn’t tourismophobia, it’s numbers: 1,232,014 residents, 18 million tourists.” The protests were called by around 80 organizations and social groups who want to limit excessive tourism in the Balearic Islands, whose three main islands are Mallorca, Menorca and Ibiza.

Organizers claimed 50,000 people joined the protests, police estimated 20,000 participants. In a cruel joke against England fans of the Three Lions, who lost 2-1 to Spain last Sunday night, a sign read: “The only thing coming home is you.”

READ MORE Met Office issues two-word update during August heatwave after 31C

It also featured the face of England right-back and Manchester City star Kyle Walker. “From a practical point of view, it’s a legitimate economic activity. But as an economic activity, it should eventually be regulated just like hotels,” said architect and urban planning expert Jose Maria Ezquiaga.

He told public broadcaster TVE that he believes tourist rental apartments should require the approval of local residents’ associations. “It should be the local owners who set the rules of the game and decide whether certain formats are acceptable or not,” he said.

And tourism and business expert Manuel de la Calle said imposing a tourist tax could be part of the solution. “It is one of the possible solutions that could be implemented. It will not reduce the flow of tourism,” he said.

But he added, “but it will generate resources that can be channeled into tourism management or other ways to help the local population,” he told TVE.