Majorca 'at crisis point' as locals issue warning to British tourists

A leading Majorcan hotelier has said the overtourism on the Spanish island has led to a "critical situation".

Maria Frontera, president of the Mallorca Hoteliers Federation, called for a "strategic plan" to manage overcrowding.

According to Majorca Daily Bulletin, she appeared to suggest the islands were being overrun with tourists. She said: "Seeking a balance of coexistence between residents and visitors has long been an issue on these islands."

She added: "We all saw it and we have asked that it be managed better. But governments tend to be more reactive than preventive."

Hotelier proposals have included "diverting tourist flows" and better public transport in order to improve mobility. 

Meanwhile, President of the Balearic Parliament Marga Prohens said that she has "always" sought to ensure there are limits on tourism growth.

According to Majorica Daily Bulletin, she added that her government is committed to transforming the tourism model so that it grows in value, not in volume.

This appears similar to the strategy being employed on the Canary Islands which appears to be targeting US holidaymakers, that see the Canaries as a luxury destination which they're willing to pay top dollar for.

In the fact, the Canary Islands has seen widespread protests in recent years against overtourism. Just in April, demonstrators took to the streets to rally against what they perceived as a rampant tourism industry cannibalising their local communities.

Express.co.uk visited the islands on April 20, joining a 120,000-strong demonstration in Tenerife.

Protesters claimed the action was not about tourismophobia, but simply that local people there could not accomodate so many visitors every year.