Popular holiday island Majorca has been battling issues of overtourism for some time now – but the latest measures proposed by locals could hit holidaymakers hard.
uncertain
measures → battle → holidaymakers
The largest of the Balearic islands, the Spanish hotspot draws in more than 13million visitors each year.
asserted
hotspot → draw → visitors
However, recent years have seen huge backlash against growing visitor numbers, and Jordi Mora, president of PIMEM, a federation representing small to medium-sized business associations, has pushed for authorities to implement measures to 'curb tourism'.
asserted
authorities → see → tourism
According to Majorca Daily Bulletin, he said: 'It is unacceptable that Majorca still fails to limit the number of rental vehicles, especially when the very family-run businesses within that sector are calling for such a measure.
uncertain
businesses → accord → measure
We must go further.'
asserted
We → go → ?
The business leader urged for serious measures to be taken, such as cutting back on the amount of places available to holidaymakers to stay on the island.
asserted
measures → urge → island
New measures have been called for in Majorca in a bid to 'curb tourism'.
asserted
measures → call → tourism
Pictured: Protests in the holiday hotspot earlier this year
Mr Mora added: 'We need to curb tourism, which includes reducing the total number of tourist beds.
asserted
which → picture → beds
We are already seeing some small-scale hoteliers who would support such a reduction.'
asserted
who → see → reduction
He believes it is possible to 'move towards a more sustainable model' of tourism and slimming down the number of beds available to tourists, 'also means reducing competition and increasing the value of those that remain'.
asserted
that → believe → those
The industry expert pointed out that trends have changed with British and German holidaymakers.
asserted
trends → point → holidaymakers
Instead of two-week stays, tourists these days are booking 'much shorter' trips.
asserted
tourists → book → trips
He argues the focus should shift to 'value', rather than the number of visitors.
asserted
focus → argue → visitors
Accommodation prices in the area have increased by 12 to 14 per cent annually over the last three years, which Mr Mora has described as 'disproportionate'.
asserted
Mora → increase → which
Mr Mora is also pushing for more competitive pricing that allows holidaymakers to spend with other local businesses, such as dining out.
asserted
holidaymakers → push → businesses
In September, thousands of locals took to the streets in Palma, Majorca, against airport expansion plans.
asserted
thousands → take → plans
Local business leader Jordi Mora has pushed the government to reduce 'the total number of tourist beds'.
asserted
Mora → push → beds
Pictured: More protests on the popular holiday spot earlier this year
They raised concerns that the proposals would bring in more tourists to areas that are already battling overtourism.
asserted
that → picture → overtourism
There were reportedly no arrests and the demonstrations were described as 'mainly peaceful'.
uncertain
demonstrations → be → ?
The Spanish airport authority Aena denies that multi-million-pound airport expansion plans will bring in more holidaymakers at a time when locals in holiday hotspots are already distressed by what they claim is 'overtourism'.
uncertain
they → deny → hotspots
The management body insists improvements and upgrades are necessary to keep pace with changing demands.
asserted
improvements → insist → demands
Meanwhile, in Benidorm, local authorities have managed to earn a small fortune of over €100,000 from fining dodgy accommodation, The Olive Press reports.
asserted
Press → manage → accommodation
In a bid to tackle illegal holiday rentals, the resort town introduced new measures last year when Benidorm City Council took over responsibility for regulating the area from the Valencian Government.
asserted
Council → tackle → Government
The Aporia
