An initiative has been launched on social media entitled ‘Welcome to Sollerland’
Artificial intelligence has become the latest tool for activists in Majorca as they wage war against the overtourism plaguing the Balearic Island.
EU holidaymakers are being targeted with a sophisticated AI campaign aimed at dissuading them from visiting.
On Instagram, a provocative profile named ‘Welcome to Sollerland’ has popped up, stirring controversy with its aim to expose the impact of excessive tourism in Soller. The account uses AI-generated images to paint a grim forecast of the locale’s renowned sites.
Just four days ago, this social network channel posed the query: “What will this summer be like in Sóller?”
Accompanying that question was an AI-generated response. The post portrayed numerous scenes, including a Plaza de la Constitución swamped with tourists and hire cars.
Also featured in the post is the famous Sóller train, which appears overcrowded with passengers. One image shows a man, surrounded by a crowd, holding a sign that reads “I was from here.”
Another image captures a girl on an overloaded Sóller train amidst visitors engrossed in their phones, wearing a t-shirt with the same slogan, reports Birmingham Live.
The most recent image in the series features a child on a crowded beach, holding a sign that reads, “I used to play here.”
One local resident responded: “I drove into and passed Soller a few times last week. The gridlock was mostly caused by cars stopping and looking/waiting for parking spaces. If local authorities would guide traffic better there would not be an issue. As it happened there was nobody to be seen.
“And cars holding up everyone behind them all the time. Simple. In typical Mallorquin style, complain but never any relevant action.”
This comes as Soller council is introducing a “non-resident traffic zone”, covering an area of around 70 hectares.
This initiative is part of an experimental low emission zone.