Panic in Majorca, Menorca and Ibiza as tourists abandon islands for Canaries

By John Varga, World News Reporter

An empty beach in Majorca (Image: Getty)

The Balearic Islands have seen a drop in popularity as tourists head to other parts of Spain for their holidays. They have gone from being the third most popular destination in Spain to the fourth, after Catalonia, Andalusia and the Canary Islands - according to data provided by the Travelgate platform.

It comes as new figures show American tourists are staying away from Majorca, adding to the worries of local businesses on the popular holiday island. New summer direct flights from New York have recently helped boost US tourist numbers to the Balearics. However, this year it appears that Americans are staying away, much to the disappointment of some five-star hotels and shops, who rely on their custom and spending.

Protests in Majorca over mass tourism (Image: Getty)

The reason for the no-show is being blamed on the current political turmoil in the Middle East, rather than on the anti-tourism demonstrations that have erupted once again this summer.

Business leaders from the hospitality and tourism sectors in Majorca are increasingly worried that the protests are behind a plunge in visitors to the holiday hotspot.

The Association of Temporary Services Concessions and Operations in the Maritime-Terrestrial Public Domain of Majorca (Adopuma) said that restaurants were underperforming, beach bar takings were down, and occupancy rates stayed low even in August, the Majorca Daily Bulletin reports.

Adopuma's president Onofre Fornes blamed the "irresponsible negative messages against tourism" for the downturn. The association urged the Balearics government to cap prices, stamp out anti-tourism sentiment, and ensure that Majorca remained affordable for the mid-budget visitors who keep the island ticking.

The organisation's warning came after Spanish officials admitted that a relentless campaign of anti-tourist protests is "scaring away visitors".

Majorca has also seen a decline in the number of German tourists visiting the Balearics.

Last year, the number of Germans surged to five million, with 93% visiting Majorca.

However, a decline in the number of German tourists has been evident in both May and June. Germans appear to have been deterred from visiting due to concerns over ever rising prices.

Ahead of the 2025 season, Spain's tourism institute, Turespaña, warned that German bookings were slowing down due to higher costs in the Balearics.