It comes amid a series of anti-tourism protests across Spain
Anti-tourism protests have been taking place across Spain over the past year(Image: Getty Images)
A “thank you” campaign has been launched by Mallorca hotels aimed at encouraging tourists to visit the Spanish island.
The Mallorca Hotel Business Federation (FEHM) has issued a message to the millions of tourists who visit the Balearics every year to thank them for their loyalty and invite them to return to the islands, as well as to highlight the importance of tourism in the Balearic economy.
It comes amid a series of anti-tourism protests across Spain over the past few year as residents have been raising concerns over the impact of tourism on the environment, local infrastructure and housing.
The new initiative, which has started with around twenty billboards being distributed throughout Mallorca, uses positive and welcoming messages in English and German to encourage tourists to visit the archipelago.
It aims to depict islands as a welcoming and quality destination, as explained on Monday (July 14) by the president of the federation, Javier Vich, reports Spanish news site Majorca Daily Bulletin.
Majorca Daily Bulletin reports that the aim of this initiative is to reinforce the narrative of tourism as an economic driver and generator of well-being, in a context of growing social criticism of the Balearic Islands’ tourism model.
As well as Mallorca, similar anti-tourism protests took place in mainland Spain last month(Image: Getty Images)
Javier Vich said: “Every month during the high season, 235,000 salaries are paid in sectors linked to tourism: transport, catering, culture, leisure and hospitality,” as he stressed that these salaries depend directly on the visitors who choose the Balearic Islands as their holiday destination.
He continued: “We cannot allow a radical minority to damage the work carried out over many years by so many people who have made tourism their way of life,” referring to recent protests and acts of vandalism against tourist saturation.
“Mallorca has been, is and must continue to be a hospitable land,” Vich added, and defended the fact that the majority of the Balearic population supports tourism, despite the challenges it poses for the autonomous community.
“There are competing destinations such as Greece, Turkey and the south of France that welcome tourists with a red carpet. We must also be aware of their value,” Vich concluded.
He also warned of a slowdown in bookings for this season, especially in sectors such as restaurants and retail, and said that factors such as geopolitical uncertainty, rising prices and the uncontrolled growth of illegal holiday rentals are affecting the pace of demand.
Despite this campaign to encourage tourism, Vich argued that the Balearic Islands must continue to commit to responsible, value-added and well-managed tourism.