The pictures and news have gone viral: Over the weekend, locals symbolically occupied the “Ballermann” beach in Palma de Mallorca, which is particularly popular with German holidaymakers. So far, protests against the increase in mass tourism on the island have always been peaceful. But now the first graffiti with slogans such as “Kill a tourist” have appeared. This was reported by the “Mallorca-Zeitung”.
Mallorcan restaurateur protects tourists
Now one of the kings of local restaurants surprises with claims that… vacationers protect them – and blame the Mallorcans themselves for the misery: Juan Ferrer, who runs nine restaurants on Ballermann-Zeile. Ferrer places the main blame on the owners who “prefer to rent their apartments to tourists or sell them to foreigners rather than to locals through Airbnb because they earn more that way,” Ferrer told the “FAZ“.
Mallorcan politics has also contributed significantly to the fact that it is becoming increasingly difficult for locals to find an affordable apartment or a home of their own. “The left-wing regional governments (…) have prevented the construction of enough new housing.” And now that they have been in opposition for a year, “they are at the forefront of demonstrations and protest against what they themselves. “They caused it,” Ferrer continued.
The locals behave like “Majorcan shooters”
The policies of left-wing regional governments have failed to adequately respond to the fact that the population of the popular Mediterranean island has increased by a third in the last 20 years. The same goes for the growing number of tourists. Not only is there a lack of accommodation, but also the infrastructure has not grown.
Instead, these politicians are now exploiting the “legitimate protests” for their own purposes, Ferrer criticizes in the “FAZ”. “Furthermore, the demonstrations are increasingly becoming an event, the participants behave like Mallorcan dancers, with party music and so on. alcohol.”
A look at the traffic also shows that the main problem is the lack of holidaymakers. There are traffic jams in the Palma metropolitan area almost every day and there is no parking. “In addition, we have the least traffic problems in July and August. Then it is the high tourist season here, but the schools are closed and the employees are absent.”
“Increase houses from three to six stories”
Ferrer also provides constructive suggestions on how to alleviate the housing shortage. He could certainly understand that policy makers wanted to prevent the island from being “expanded.” According to the restaurateur, new construction is not necessary to create additional living space. It is sufficient to raise several existing buildings from three to six floors, for example at Ballermann.
Allow Airbnb only where there is no shortage of accommodation
Ferrer refused to limit the number of tourists by reducing flights. Mallorca needs tourists. But it would be helpful to “drastically limit” the rental of apartments to holidaymakers via Airbnb. This should only be allowed outside the metropolitan area of Palma de Mallorca, where there is no shortage of accommodation, Ferrer said. “This rent not only blocks living space, but also sometimes attracts the wrong people: party guests who make noise in the house at night.”
The initiative aims to ban flip-flops and swimsuits in the evening
Ferrer has founded an initiative called “Palma Beach” with 43 restaurants, hotels, clubs and other recreational facilities that want to implement higher quality standards in tourism. Among the rules there is also, for example, a dress code that prohibits flip-flops, swimsuits and T-shirts in the evening.
The entrepreneur also plans to bring music festivals and sporting events to Ballermann – “a bit like Las Vegas.”