Restaurateurs in a popular Spanish tourist destination are sounding the alarm after a sharp downturn in tourist bookings, thought to stem from raised fees, stringent regulations, and mounting resentment towards tourists.
Island eateries are weathering a storm as Juanmi Ferrer, the top dog at Restauración CAEB, disclosed to the Majorca Daily Bulletin that the opening fortnight of May was a "very bad" spell for business.
He laid bare that weekday reservations have nosedived by as much as 50% in tourist hotspots, whilst weekend trade has tapered off by 10% year-on-year.
This commercial spiral aligns with holidaymakers facing up to extra red tape, fresh rules and fees, alongside a harsh reception from anti-tourism demonstrations.
Plagued by a tourism boom, Majorca's real estate scene and its delicate infrastructure are buckling, fuelling local cries over recent months for robust defences against the swell of visitors and holiday home purchasers.
What’s more, those flocking to the Balearic haven during peak times will also be hit with an extra €5 nightly charge, thanks to a newly-introduced tourist tax by the regional government.
Mr Ferrer shared his gloom, remarking that despite a decent buzz on May 1 and May 2, he's called the month a write-off with "the rest of the month has been lamentable". He's doubtful of any upturn before May 25, candidly remarking: "We're writing off the month. We didn't expect this start to the season: you have to go back many years to find one this bad."
The lead figure in hospitality bemoaned the noticeable drop in trade, possibly linked to unfortunate weather across Spain, yet had to admit to an overarching decline even when comparing last year's figures to those in 2023, reports Dublin Live.
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Restauración CAEB earlier expressed concerns over a stark 20% dip in revenues in Q1 of 2025, echoing a similar slip from June 2024, resulting from shrinking tourist spending. Mr Ferrer has pegged the hospitality industry as a crucial metric for Majorca's fiscal health and warned that continued trading woes "will inevitably effect the entire local economy".
However, it's not all doom and gloom, as the Balearic Islands have seen record tourism early in 2025, with international arrivals breaching 800,000 between January and March – a near 4% increase on last year's numbers.
Yet when it comes to revenue, Mr Ferrer observed a troubling trend: "In terms of spending, we are not seeing an increase, but quite the opposite, a decrease," he highlighted. "We have more people spending less, it seems."
Tourists are being deterred by extended stays owing to tourist tax policies and less-than-friendly locals, with soaring prices in Majorca's hospitality sector also a sticking point. One peeved tourist even accused the island's businesses of "biting the hand" that feeds them.
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