MAJORCA’s angry anti-tourist locals have put up fake beach closure signs in a new bid to hold back holidaymakers.
And in a separate action residents of a picture-postcard village caused traffic chaos by walking back and forth across zebra crossings in a half-hour demo to thwart frustrated visitors trying to reach the coast.
This fake sign was seen in a bid to prevent crowded beachesSolarpix
It was seen blocking a path leading to a picturesque coveSolarpix
Gates were closed with huge stop signsSolarpix
Another closure sign was also put up nearby to discourage touristsSolarpix
The separately organised protests, which took place more than 850 miles apart, showed the depth and breadth of the campaigns targeting tourists.
A protest group called Caterva was behind the fake beach closures in Manacor in eastern Majorca on Saturday.
The fed-up group put up red tape and signs at several coves saying “Beach Closed”.
They include the secluded white-sand cove Cala Varques and a “hidden” cove renowned for snorkelling called Cala Petita.
Caterva said in a post on X: “New action by Caterva in Manacor. We closed coves for residents’ use and rest. Let’s change course and prioritise life.
“We believe the tourist is part of the machinery and has responsibility for the situation we suffer.”
“But the main people responsible are those who own the hotel chains and construction companies and real estate firms.
“They’re the ones we should be pointing our fingers at.”
The separate zebra crossing protest took place yesterday in the municipality of Cangas do Morrazo, which is dotted with beautiful sandy beaches and stunning clifftop views.
Around 80 locals walked repeatedly back and forth across the village’s three crossings in front of stunned motorists, who were forced to sit in their cars waiting for them to finish.
They carried out the demo to complain about scores of tourists through the region’s 38 beaches and the fact visitors park outside of designated areas.
Some tourists are said to have given up trying to reach the coast, turning around instead.
The protest started around 11.30am on Sunday and continued until around midday.
It was abruptly called off before police could arrive and identify those taking part.
Villager Esperanza Vega said: “Every summer things get worse.”
Mercedes Villar, president of a local neighbourhood association, added: “This is not tourism-phobia, it’s the right of residents to leave in peace and it’s about protecting … our security and physical integrity.”
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In the Majorcan capital Palma, two big protests have this year taken place as locals rage about overcrowding and dwindling affordable housing.
Other smaller protests have taken place elsewhere on the island as well as its Balearic neighbours Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera.
On July 27, around 250 protesters impeded tourist access to a Menorcan beach in a “surprise action”.
Activists boasted of filling a car park by Cala Turqueta, a beautiful cove on the island’s southern coast, with “residents’ cars”.
They then used towels and their own bodies to shape the message “SOS Menorca” on the sand by the waterline.
The unannounced protest, by environmental non-profit organisation GOB Menorca, resulted in the car park being “blocked” to holidaymakers for around six hours from early morning, according to local reports.
Anti-mass-tourism protests have also taken place in the Canary Islands, as well as mainland hotspots like Alicante and Malaga.
On August 18, protesters unfurled a huge banner telling tourists on a packed Costa Blanca beach in Alicante that read: “Go home.”
Graffiti targeted at tourists has appeared in both Tenerife and Majorca.
The activists let off pink flares to make sure holidaymakers relaxing on the sand or cooling off in the sea received the message.
They appeared to be directing themselves at English-speaking visitors with the language they used in bright-red capital letters, although they also used the local Valencian language to appeal to residents with a message above it on the banner which said: “Aturem La Turistificacio” – “Stop Touristification”.
The beach protest was carried out by a group called Garrot and took place close to Benidorm.
The banner was unfurled on rocks to the north of the cove where it was clearly visible to those in the sea and on the beach.
Traffic banks up as frustrated tourists are held back
The coves are flooded in summer for the beautiful blue water
Accessing the natural coves is being made more difficult by fed-up locals
The island’s many beaches are now being hotly fought over
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