Mallorca cracks down on ‘severe’ UK tourists who ‘drink alcohol’

British tourists in Spain have been warned they face a crackdown on “drink and drug” tourists. Spain’s biggest holiday hotspots such as Ibiza, the rest of the Balearic Islands including Mallorca and Canary Islands such as Lanzarote and Tenerife have issued a warning.

Speaking to Spanish publication Diario de Ibiza, Mallorca resident Maria Amengual described the influx of summer tourists as a “brutal invasion”. She added: “Mass tourism means going to the emergency room for a serious illness and being told that the ambulances are busy tending to more drugged or drunk people.”

Responding to the warning, a Briton defended locals in Spain and criticized the influx of tourists for their behaviour. They wrote: “Like an invading locust… causing trouble… no surprise that locals have found themselves with the problems caused by anti-social locusts in their towns…”.

READ MORE UK prepares to sizzle in Azores Major heatwave that ‘is as hot as Spain and Portugal’

A new report by Braintrust has warned that the high seasonality of Spanish sun and beach destinations accounts for 69.8% of spending between July and September. The consulting firm points out that this model, “without ceasing to be important because of its weight”, makes activity precarious and prevents the deseasonalization that “is so harmful to mature destinations, not only in Spain, but throughout the world”.

Braintrust director Ángel García Butragueño said: “In Spain we continue to exploit the sun and beach model, when we have other excellent markets to promote, other niches are increasingly important, such as culture, sports, shopping and nature “.

He pointed out that the demonstrations against tourism demand that the model be “much more sustainable” and benefit the resident with tourism that is “much more diversified, de-seasonal, respectful and that brings greater benefits to the destination”. Braintrust also analyzed the different types of niche tourism, reaching some “significant” conclusions when it comes to personalizing the value proposition.