British tourists have been told to “stop coming” to Majorca as tensions between locals and visitors continue.
One local even said Brits “behave like animals” and are “dirty and smelly.”
It comes as two million tourists are estimated to have gone “missing” in Spain’s Balearic Islands last year amid suspicions some may have rented illegal accommodation.
Authorities in the popular island chain, which includes Majorca and Ibiza, are under pressure to crack down on dodgy holiday rentals, which have been blamed for overtourism.
An unnamed source told Majorca Daily Bulletin local government is losing out on revenue from tourist taxes as a result of the use of illegal rentals.
Government data cited by the same publication appears to suggest thousands of tourists are opting to stay in private homes or unregulated accommodation instead of registered hotels or holiday lets where tourist taxes can be added to charges.
Some of the estimated two million could also have been staying with friends or family or in their own second homes, but Majorca Daily Bulletin reports hoteliers suspect some tourists rented illegal apartments and villas.
Readers of the report criticised the figure, with one arguing there was a need to “wage war” on illegal lets, but only focusing on that would not help bring down total visitor numbers.
They argued people renting illegal properties for their holidays would largely transfer their stays to the Balearics’ licensed accommodation.
The contributor added: “So we will still have a situation of 20 million plus visitors and most agree this is too many for our island and needs to be managed better and reduced.”
Another person raged: “Spanish tourism does not depend on Brits. Has never and will never depend on Brits. We want you to stop coming in fact.
“You are poor, you leave poor margins and you behave like animals. You are noisy, dirty, smelly, drunk and misbehaved. We are not playing a dangerous game, we want you to stay at home.”
Others challenged the figures, while one person claimed the priority for hoteliers is to make sure visitors stay in legal accommodation, rather than seeing a reduction in tourist numbers.
Majorca Daily Bulletin reported in July last year that 2.3 million tourists stayed with friends or family or used illegal rentals in 2023, saying the figures were from Spain’s National Statistics Institute.
Under recently introduced laws passed by the Balearic Government, landlords who fail to register to pay Spain’s mandatory tourist tax will be forced to close.
Spain has seen protests in a number of holiday hotspots in recent months, with locals furious at the impact of mass tourism on housing, natural resources such as water and the environment.
In recent days, it emerged Malaga will join popular destinations including Barcelona and Majorca in curbing new registrations of holiday rental properties.
Visitors can still book hotels and apartments, but the move could impact AirBnB’s option to rent a private room in someone’s property.
Existing accommodation affected by the change include holiday flats registered since February 22 last year which don’t have separate entrances and utilities to permanent residents, according to the Independent.