Source: AFP
Every year, nearly 800,000 tourists wander the alleys of Binibeca Vell, a tiny whitewashed village nicknamed “the Spanish Mykonos” for its resemblance to the famous Greek island that attracts huge crowds of visitors.
For its 200 residents, “this is a lot,” said Oscar Monge, who runs a local residents’ association and would like the village “to be calmer.”
Binibeca Vell, on the island of Menorca, is located in a small bay with sparkling turquoise waters, and the picturesque village has become a major attraction for visitors to Spain’s Mediterranean Balearic Islands.
A windfall for tour operators rushing to promote the “fairytale” charm of this village, designed by Catalan architect Francisco Barba Corsini, the crowds are a source of irritation for locals who have to put up with the rude behavior of some visitors.
Source: AFP
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“Everybody wants to come here to take pictures,” said Monge, whose association represents homeowners in this private residential community that was founded in 1972.
“We have nothing against tourism, but sometimes it feels like we’re living in Disneyland Paris,” he sighed.
Behind it is a sign asking visitors to be “respectful” and “quiet.”
“We’ve put them all over the place … because some tourists walk on the walls and climb on the roofs” or even open doors and go inside the houses “to see who lives there,” he said.
“Negative social aspect”
Residents recently decided to restrict access to their picturesque streets, with visitors only allowed between 11:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.
Source: AFP
And on August 15 they will vote on whether to go even further and ban visitors altogether.
But the initiative has sparked debate.
“It’s good to limit visitors at night. But if the village is completely closed, it will have a negative impact on business,” said Maria Neyla Ramirez, who runs El Patio restaurant and hopes to see “some flexibility.”
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And while many visitors understand, they also want to keep coming.
“For the people who live here, it’s special. But that’s tourism… we like to see beautiful things,” admits Jean-Marie Bassut, 66, from southeastern France.
Monge insists it is possible to strike a balance.
The village can’t have “busloads after loads” of tourists coming “without any kind of regulation,” he said, hoping the restrictions will raise awareness.
Source: AFP
Binibeca Vell is not the only one affected by hypertourism. Last year, a record 17.8 million people visited the Balearic Islands, both from Spain and abroad.
And the numbers are expected to be even higher this year.
“The Balearic Islands have reached their limits,” regional leader Marga Proens of the right-wing People’s Party (PP) said last week.
He said the “negative social impact” must be taken into account to make tourism “compatible with the lives of residents”.
‘Not for sale’
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In late May, several million people took to the streets of Majorca, Menorca and Ibiza — the three main Balearic Islands — to demand measures to curb overtourism under the slogan: “Our islands are not for sale.”
Source: AFP
Residents point to noise levels, clogged roads and pollution — but mostly the impact on house prices, which have risen in recent years as many apartments have been converted to tourist accommodation.
Faced with growing local resentment, the authorities have taken some measures.
Some towns in Mallorca and Ibiza have restricted the sale of alcohol in shops after 9.30pm, as well as banning drinking on the streets.
In Majorca, the mayor of the island’s capital also plans to ban new tourist accommodation and limit the arrival of cruise ships.
Ibiza also wants to tighten party rules.
The regional government has set up a committee of experts to draw up a “roadmap” for the archipelago in the hope of finding some long-term solutions.
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Although both lawmakers and locals believe some restrictions are necessary, they will be hard to find in a region that receives 45 percent of its revenue from tourism.
“We want tourists to come… and enjoy the natural paradise we have here,” says Joaquin Quintana, 51, looking out over the calm waters of Binibeca.
“But it’s important to find a balance.”
Source: AFP