A recent wave of angry anti-British tourist sentiment peaked last weekend when 3000 Spaniards took to the streets of Majorca capital Palma demanding Brits, Germans and tourists from the Nordic countries go home.
Now long-time British visitors to Majorca are talking of having their holidays ruined by a “new-found arrogance” among young Spaniards, of being made to feel unwelcome and even threatened – and they are voting with their feet.
The anti-British message was hammered home further today when a new survey showed two out of three people living in the Balearic islands of Majorca, Menorca and Ibiza believe numbers of tourists should be capped.
But the other third warn that the entire Majorcan economy is fuelled by tourism cash and the bid to frighten off visitors is suicidal.
Already British tourists who fell in love with the island decades ago for its weather, its beauty and its laid-back attitude, are admitting they’ve had enough of the new breed of “Majorcan arrogance” and are leaving the island for good.
English speaking website the Majorca Daily Bulletin interviewed British tourists on the island.
One said: “Bye Bye Majorca. Me and my money will be welcomed somewhere else.
“I have done what the demonstrators want. I have just cancelled my two holidays to Majorca for next year.
“I really feel sorry for the people who want us tourists to visit and spend our money but I for one shall not return in the future. The last thing I need on holiday is to feel like an intruder and an unwanted person.”
Another visitor added: “I have been a regular visitor to Mallorca since the 1960s and I can understand the frustrations of a small island, with many tourists than there used to be but I am afraid you cannot have your cake and eat it.
“It was the Spanish that opened up Mallorca in the first place, catering for package holidays, and building a huge airport to handle it.
“Maybe it is time to say adios Mallorca, And thanks for the memories.”
And a third said: “Mallorca used to be the friendliest place in the world. I remember Mallorca in the 1980s when I first came.
“Trying to regulate when people come to visit and when or if they can drive a rental car is insane! I have noticed an arrogance that never was prevalent here before.
“The Madeiras are starting to look great.”
Majorca and nearby Balearic Islands have become rich on the back of mass tourism – especially from Britain and Germany.
The Majorca Tourist Board was founded in 1905 and for a time the island specialised in very high end hotel holidays for the rich. Majorca was a big hit with celebrities of the time including Sir Charlie Chaplin, Cary Grant, John Wayne, Errol Flynn, Robert Graves, Dame Agatha Christie, Sir Winston Churchill and many more.
However, after the Spanish Civil War and the Second World War the island was economically on its knees and a decision was taken to capitalise on the rise of the passenger jet and welcome mass tourism.
Today Germany sends the most tourists to Majorca followed by the UK then mainland Spain.
Most recent figures are:
Germany 3,237,745
United Kingdom 1,985,311
Spain 1,059,612
Nordic Countries 641,920
Benelux 345,837
Switzerland 325,241
France 323,241
Italy 203,520
Austria 163,477
Ireland 104,556