The director of the major tourism group TUI has shown understanding for the protests against mass tourism on the Spanish island of Mallorca. This is evident from comments published in the German newspaper Bild on Sunday.
“There are protests focused on certain outrageous issues, such as rent increases, lack of housing, increased house prices and traffic,” Sebastian Ebel told Bild. “And we should definitely take this seriously, because we would feel the same way,” he added.
Mallorca, Barcelona and other popular Spanish destinations have been the scene of repeated demonstrations by residents this year, with protests focused on rising prices and overcrowding.
Ebel noted that package tourists – TUI’s main market – were being accommodated in hotels and therefore not taking up private apartments. “We are also doing our best to keep water consumption as low as possible,” he said.
There had to be an assessment of what the locals felt, he said. “It’s the locals who have to decide how much tourism they want,” Ebel said.
TUI reported in December last year that demand for summer holidays in Mallorca was greater this year than ever before.
