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We won’t stop! PROTESTORS have called another demonstration against mass tourism. It is due to take place on July 21 and will involve all four of the Balearic Islands. The Menys Turisme, Mes Vida (less tourism, more life) group is behind the protest. It is set to break Palma’s previous historic march, which saw over 10,000 people take to the streets on May 25. Now, those who took part in May’s action will be joined by unions and tourism workers. The demonstration will focus on the Balearic Islands’ current housing crisis. Margalida Ramis, one of the leaders of the protest group stated they will not stop until tourism is reduced on the islands. According to the environmentalist, they have a ‘constant trickle of actions’ planned at least until the end of summer.
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Fight them on the beaches! s May 31st - June 13th 2024
Vol. 7 Issue 182 www.theolivepress.e
Stack of shame
off their TWO British tourists have been kicked before it sunbeds after entering a hotel pool area officially opened. Press shows Video footage recorded by the Olive shouting a security guard waving his finger and made ‘no, no, no!’ at the men as he frantically hand gestures towards his watch. the area The pair were then escorted away from told to get to at the Melia Hotel in Benidorm and forming at the back of a queue, which had been the pool area’s entrance. to reserve We watched as holidaymakers tried policy of the beds at 8.40am, going against the this year. hotel, which is laying down the law guard It can get so heated, a dedicated security is posted each morning. uncordon, At 9am, the guard releases the rope scurry to leashing a flock of British tourists who secure their preferred spots by the pool. the dreaded It comes as hotels are bracing for earlier sunbed wars this year, which are starting than ever. brandLast week two elderly tourists were of sunbeds, ed ‘selfish’ for laying on stacks also in Benidorm. See both stories in full on our
Historic antitourism march sees 10,000 take to the streets demanding change to ‘destructive’ industry
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By Yzabelle Bostyn
A HISTORIC anti-tourism march has alarmed holiday firms as the main summer season begins. An incredible 10,000 people took to the streets in Mallorca this weekend to demand change to the ‘destructive’ effects of tourism. ‘They Chanting will not force us out of Mallorca’, they goaded holidaymakers with signs including ‘Guiri go home!’ and caused mayhem on a busy Saturday. It comes after local protests also took place in Sevilla, Malaga and the Canary Islands. told Tourists the Olive Press
EAGER: Brit tourist takes a pile of towels to reserve sunbeds
The Olive Press visits the study centre votest the EU’s top new building
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But also partly xenophobic
march in Palma on Saturday
EMOTIONAL: of a vital general public zone, the approval how they felt ‘in- ive Press: “The a stand as our moratorium on tourist lets timidated’ and has had to take don’t want to and standard of living guaran‘scared’ politicians just even tees for locals. suffering when the hordes get involved.” the situa- “People are really governof angry pro- For young people,dire. and we don’t trust this the tourism testers marched tion is particularly how they are ment to change through Palma, Locals relate with their par- model,” added the spokesman. ‘stuck’ living on Saturday. It follows action in the Canary high rent prices. Under the slogan ents due to Islands last month, where isn’t ‘Mallorca some 57,000 residents gathfor sale’ the prinGrip ered to protest against mass cipal complaint tourism. organthe for spokesman tourist boss, who is the lack of af- A local collective called A German holiday rentfordable housing isers, a Time Bank said owns a string of caused by a sur- Sencelleswas enough’ as tour- als in Sevilla and Marbella, plus of Airbnbs, ho- ‘enough the Olive Press: “I am ism took a grip across every told tels and tourist lets. genuinely worried about it and of the island. I meet anyPosters read: ‘Our part investors are honing don’t tell anyone my job is.” ancestors land is for “Foreign the interior of the island more whatremain anonymous, sale’ and ‘It’s not in on it's the only charming Asking to “It is clearly betourism-phobia, it’s because she added: left to buy,” he said. Mallorca-cide’, while bit group is demanding im- coming a major problem.” protestors chanted: The meaSee Demand and ‘emergency mediate “No, no, they will not desperation, p6 to solve the issue. force us out of Mal- sures’ include: declaring MalThese Opinion p6 lorca.” estate real a ‘stressed’ One local told the Ol- lorca
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government’s decree on A PLANNED change in the Balearic to individual councils to tourist regulations gives more powers act against illegal holiday rentals. right to seal off properties. That includes inspectors having the to act in backing up inThe government also wants the police lets. spections and shutting down illegal that enforced cloThe socialist PSIB party has warned a judge. sures can only be approved by The decree changes also include classifying Palma's Paseo Maritimo and Cala Major as 'mature' areas which will allow renovation work to take place with significant investments similar to those in Magaluf.
Beach invasion
are planning to ANTI-tourism activists in Mallorca demonstration ‘fill up’ popular beaches with a mass designed to disrupt holidaymakers. Platja Tour is beA protest group known as Mallorcaoccupy beaches. hind the calls for local residents tois planned for June The stand against mass tourism 16. tomorrow, June Mallorca Platja Tour will also meetJordi) to organise 1 in Cala Galiota (Colonia de Sant the protest. live near a beach “We are calling on all residents whoand use them like them recover to to come and swim, on X. we used to,” the group said in a statement positive responses The proposal has been met with idea. Please, come from locals, who responded ‘great for the guiris.’ to Arenal and don’t leave a centimetre
Vol. 7 Issue 183 www.theolivepress.es June 14th - June 27th 2024
JUNE MONSOON
Tourist season kicks off with the airport shut down, ground crew swimming and restaurant tables floating away By Walter Finch
MALLORCA’S tourist season has been hit for six just as it is getting underway by historic rainfall and flooding the likes of which have not been seen in almost a decade. The sudden and unexpected storm dumped 90mm of rainfall at its peak. The unseasonal monsoon broke the previous record for June of 56mm set in 1991 and caused chaos at Palma airport. There were barely believable scenes of ground crew swimming in the floods and passengers peering out of the window as their plane was submerged on the runway. Inside the airport, holidaymakers witnessed torrents of water cascading from the ceilings of terminals and waves gushing into the airport through doors and windows. Flooding grounded all planes for an hour while incoming flights were forced to divert. The entire airport came to its knees as the backlog of flights took hours to clear. The bedlam even rippled across Europe, as disruption
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to an estimated 100 flights at Palma airport caused delays in London and Paris and other airports in Spain. For tourists arriving on the island for a sunshine getaway, things got even worse once they eventually made it out of the airport, through the traffic jams and into the city. The storm's fury had overwhelmed local drainage systems, turning streets into canals and wreaking havoc on restaurants and shops in the surrounding areas. Restaurateurs and business owners in the popular Playa de Palma have described their predicament as a ‘nightmare’. They will have to grapple with the costs of damage and clean up just as they were expecting an influx of tourists. Some beachfront restaurants saw water levels reach half a metre, forcing staff to scramble to rescue their food and drink inventory as their ta-
BIBLICAL: The storms flooded the airport leaving ground staff to swim bles floated away. The positive news, however, is that there have been no reports of serious injuries - unlike in the last serious floods to strike the island. A British couple were among 12 people to die in flash floods that swept across Mallorca in 2018.
JUST CHAMPION! FRENCH Open champion, Carlos Alcaraz, 21, has let loose in Ibiza, celebrating his victory with a karaoke session. Alcaraz won the prestigious title on Sunday, beating the experienced Alexander Zverev. He then travelled to Ibiza with friends, footballer Sergio Reguilon, his brother Diego and businessman, Charlie Cuellar. They shared videos of the group eating in the iconic Roto restaurant, before enjoying a night of karaoke at SWAG
Ibiza. According to the Diario de Ibiza the group shouted ‘Champions!’, ‘Long live Spain’. Alcaraz is the youngest-ever player to have three Slams on different surfaces - clay, grass, and hard court. His tennis hero, Manacor’s Rafael Nadal, 38, took to X to congratulate the rising star, telling him: “Congratulations for this immense victory... very happy for your successes!”
They drowned when they found themselves trapped in a taxi as sudden waters engulfed Sant Llorenç des Cardassar. Other survivors in the town had to swim for their lives as 200mm of rain fell in four hours.