Millions of visitors travel to Majorca every year, including plenty of Brits, to enjoy its sandy beaches and warm weather but one local resident has given a warning about the amount of tourists
A Majorca resident has given a warning about one thing to consider when visiting the island (stock photo)(Image: Alex via Getty Images)
Majorca has been a popular holiday hotspot for Brits, particularly for its beautiful sandy beaches, crystal clear waters and high temperatures with plenty of sunshine in summer. Millions of tourists visit the Balearic Island every year but recently there have been protests by local residents to bring attention to the overtourism issues the destination faces.
The island, located in Spain, frequently welcomes large numbers of tourists from the UK and Germany but locals have been suffering the effects of mass tourism, as some have been priced out of their homes in favour of more profitable holiday lets. Gina Mariavan is a woman from Majorca who gives advice to tourists on TikTok and shares her own opinions on topics such as the overtourism issues the holiday destination faces.
She posted a recent video on the platform of a very long line of passengers waiting at a bus stop in Majorca, taking up the whole pavement.
Gina wrote: “Welcome to the Mallorca bus stop! Hunger Games start in 3…2…1…” The Majorca resident referenced The Hunger Games novel and film series where contestants are pitted against each other in a tournament until only one remains.
The caption of Gina’s TikTok post reads: “Public transport in Mallorca can be a great option! However, now during high season, prepare to wait a little!”
Many visitors use public transport while on holiday in a new destination as an affordable way to explore the area as an alternative to getting taxis but it can become crowded during times of the year, like summer, when tourism is at its peak.
This can be irritating for locals and tourists alike as it leads to longer waiting times and packed buses or trains.
Gina’s TikTok clip has amassed 338,500 views, 10,900 likes and more than 200 comments, at the time of writing.
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One user said: “I just came back from Mallorca. Spent [a] few hours in Palma and really people don’t know how to behave…
“As a tourist, I’m not surprised that all locals are complaining. Came back to Porto Colom asap. Completely different vibe and people there.”
Another added: “Living on Mallorca for 2.5 years now and I totally understand why locals hate tourists, they just look to themselves. People live here. People work here.”
A fourth commented: “Locals cannot get a bus because of mass tourism. It will not end well.”
This was supported by a Majorca local in the comments section who chimed in: “Thanks to people like you we can’t even go to work, thanks.”
However, some viewers hit back at the complaints about tourism. One remarked: “For all of you who complain about tourism: you live off of it, and if it’s not regulated, it’s the city council’s fault, not the tourists!”
A second stated: “The locals blaming tourists shows how very little they understand things.
“The lack of buses and infrastructure is your politicians fault for not investing in your local community. Tourism drives your economy.”
According to Responsible Travel, tourism accounts for 45 per cent of Majorca’s economy and after the pandemic there were 14 million visitors but the island’s population is only close to one million so the volume of tourists significantly outweighs the locals.