Anti-tourism fanatics have stormed an Instagram-famous Mallorca beach as they continue to race through Spain this summer.
Tourists trying to get to the sand early could barely put down their towels as Spanish police officers were forced to reject them.
11
11
11
The number of protesters increased to more than 300 at around 10am, at the same time as the first families arrived in Calo des Moro.
Tourists quickly left the beach after encountering hundreds of angry locals cascading down the rocky shores.
Almost half a dozen Civil Guard agents also appeared at the same time, asking protest leaders to identify themselves.
The islanders made good on their promise to “reclaim” the picture-postcard cove from foreigners, taking up every inch of space on the tiny 40-meter stretch of sand with their beach towels.
They say that Calo des Moro has been taken over by influencer tourists who “only go there to take photos”.
The images show dozens of residents holding anti-tourism signs and waving banners with “SOS residents” and “it’s time to act”.
One witness said: “The first tourists who showed up seemed very surprised to find it packed with people so early.
“But they seemed to understand what was happening when it was explained to them and they turned around and left without any problems.”
11
11
11
11
An islander who supported the protest added: “If the objective of today’s action was to recover the beach and denounce mass tourism, it was certainly achieved.
“Today Calo des Moro is definitely Mallorcan.”
Anti-tourism protesters plan to paralyze the Balearic Islands during the peak season for British tourists.
Campaigners are hoping thousands of people will join the biggest rally yet in the Spanish tourist hotspot on Sunday 21 July – just as many UK schools close for the summer and families head out into the sun.
They blame the Spanish government for causing a housing and jobs crisis by sanctioning more hotels and holiday rentals – and call on the islanders of Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera to march in their thousands through the streets.
The organizers chose the date at a meeting called by “Menys Turisme, Mes Vida” – Less Tourism, More Life.
Anti-tourism measures sweep critical spots
MAJORCA and Menorca are just some of the European hotspots implementing anti-tourism measures.
Many top holiday destinations across the continent are taking measures to prevent unwanted travelers from taking over their towns and cities.
Local residents feel they can no longer afford to live in iconic destinations because they are overcrowded, unsafe and uncomfortable.
They say there are too many cars on the roads, traffic jams, overcrowded beaches, blocked access roads, ruined beauty spots and too many tourists flocking to the island, which is expecting record numbers this summer.
In April, thousands of people took to the streets in Tenerife to demand restrictions on tourists after telling Brits to “go home”.
Anti-tourist hordes filled a square in the capital brandishing banners, including some that said “You like it, we suffer” in English.
Protests also occurred at the same time on other popular Canary Islands, including Lanzarote and Gran Canaria.
The marches were organized under the motto “The Canary Islands have a limit”.
Hotel bosses in Benidorm have even admitted they are “very concerned” about growing anger among the island’s residents, but have branded holiday homes in Spain a “virus”.
More recently, the Committee on Tourism, Commerce, Employment, Culture and Sport reportedly approved an initiative to reintroduce a maximum limit for cruise ships in Palma, the capital of Mallorca.
Politicians are interested in implementing a new set of rules for cruise ships in terms of taxation, the environment or the use of less polluting fuels, to reduce the number of people arriving in the Balearics.
It was on the back of a protest on May 25 that saw 15,000 people descend on Mallorca’s capital, Palma, mocking travelers as they dined.
Margalida Ramis, head of the affiliated group GOB Mallorca, said: “We are in contact with groups on the other islands.
“We hope that those who supported the recent protests in Mallorca and Ibiza will participate alongside others, such as workers in the tourism industry.”
She said “tourist saturation” is responsible for “job and life insecurity”, a lack of housing and “environmental and ecological issues”.
Jaume Pujol, from Fridays for Future Mallorca, added: “We want to mobilize the elderly on the island who saw how it was destroyed.”
Organizers hope the demonstration will have a similar impact to the April 20 protest in the Canary Islands, in Tenerife, which was attended by around 80,000 people.
11
11
11
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
