"In the scorching heat, a long line of rental cars stretching for kilometers struggles up the winding road. On this late summer morning, an army of vacationers heads for Valldemossa. The picturesque mountain village is one of the most popular destinations on the Mediterranean island of Mallorca, and, as in years past, traffic jams on the narrow mountain road are once again a daily occurrence."
"Although opposition to mass tourism has been growing on the Balearic Islands for years, just as in other parts of Spain, and often erupts in protests, the islands are heading for a new visitor record this year. By late July almost 11 million people had spent their holidays in the archipelago, a slight increase relative to the same period last year."
"Although the figures may appear promising on the surface, Mallorca's tourism industry feels it has little to celebrate. Restaurateurs, retailers, and operators of tourist attractions all say their sales figures are significantly down. Ironically, they're most worried about German tourists. Their numbers have fallen dramatically in recent summer months compared to last year, by more than eight percent in July alone. Traditionally, Germans make up by far the largest group of holidaymakers in Mallorca."
Valldemossa and other Mallorca destinations experience severe traffic jams as rental cars and vacationers clog narrow mountain roads, affecting commuters and local buses. The Balearic Islands are on track for record visitor numbers, with nearly 11 million visitors by late July and forecasts above 19 million for 2025. Despite rising arrivals and public protests against mass tourism, local restaurateurs, retailers, and attractions report falling sales. German tourist numbers have declined sharply in recent months, down over eight percent in July, hurting businesses that traditionally depend heavily on German holidaymakers.
Read at www.dw.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]