A prominent anti-tourist protester has revealed he will never stop Mallorca’s war on British tourists, as drunken Brits laughed at the suggestion that Magaluf could ditch the booze-and-sex holidays that have earned the city its reputation.
Pere Joan, 25, a master’s student in cultural heritage in Palma and was one of the main protesters of Menys Turismo, Més Vida (Less Tourism, More Life), who led thousands of people through the streets last month in a march against excess tourism.
Following the protests, the Balearic Islands Government tightened rules on alcohol consumption, fining people up to €1,500 (£1,350) for drinking in the street, a penalty that could be increased to €3,000 (£2,500) for a serious infraction.
It also forced shops to stop selling alcohol after 8:30 p.m.
However, a series of MailOnline reports have found that these laws are largely flouted in the party town of Magaluf, and today Brits said there would be nothing to stop them coming to ‘Shagaluf’ for casual flings and week-long binges.
A prominent anti-tourist protester has revealed he will never stop Mallorca’s war on British tourists. In the photo: A woman looks after two men looking a little worse for wear in Magaluf over the weekend.
The Government of the Balearic Islands has tightened the rules on alcohol consumption and will fine up to 1,500 euros (£1,350) for drinking in the street, a penalty that could be increased to 3,000 euros (£2,500) for a serious offense following of the massive protests. tourism in the Spanish region
Pere Joan (pictured), 25, a master’s student in cultural heritage in Palma and was one of the main protesters of Menys Turismo, Més Vida (Less Tourism, More Life) and led thousands of people through the streets on last month in a march against excessive tourism.
Protester Pere said Mallorca had become a destination for sex and excessive alcohol consumption.
He blamed this culture on the British in Magaluf, the Majorcan party town, and the Germans in the other popular tourist resort of Arenal.
Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, he said: ‘(Locals) want to relax, rest in their homes at night. But in (Magaluf) they can’t sleep and some move house (because of) this problem. Some neighborhoods began to complain.
‘This type of tourists in Magaluf and Arenal… is a bad image of Mallorca.
‘Everyone just wants to be in that place to have sex, drink alcohol or do things that they can’t do in their own countries.
‘For example, the balcony, jumping into swimming pools, sex in the street, garbage in the street.
“It is not safe to go out on the street. You cannot find peace,” he said.
You have the type of tourist who likes to pay for sex. Mallorca is a sex destination.
‘In summer, violence against women, rape and domestic abuse increases.
‘If they drink alcohol, they are not able to have a normal conversation.
“This creates a problem for residents and women.”
And he added: ‘The United Kingdom is very famous for taking people to Magaluf, the Germans to Arenal.
A group of Brits are seen bathing naked in the sea off the coast of Magaluf over the weekend.
A woman is seen with two men, with her head resting on her knees, on a street in Magaluf while other partygoers who also appear somewhat deteriorated pass by.
Northern Ireland football fans dance in the streets of Magaluf over the weekend.
A group of Northern Ireland football fans are seen outside a pizzeria in Magaluf.
A man with a hat is seen with two Spanish police officers on the streets of Magaluf
A man gives a horse to a friend in the streets of Magaluf during the weekend
‘There are many others who come just to relax or go cycling to enjoy the mountains and this is fine with us.
‘Here tourists can be sustainable. We criticize the government because it spends public money (advertising) Mallorca as a destination.’
Anti-tourist graffiti such as ‘Fuck the tourists’ and ‘tourists go home’ have been seen across the sun-drenched island, as well as in other Spanish destinations.
Although Pere said that this did not arise from the official platform of Menys Turismo, Més Vida, he was not against it.
Comparing the group to Just Stop Oil and Extinction Rebellion – whose activists are known for throwing paint at famous works of art – he said, “we can’t be violent”, but added that if tourists were scared by graffiti, then that wasn’t the case. . a bad thing
However, the British insisted that no one would stop their fun.
Jason Bailey, 18, from Manchester, has been out of Magaluf for seven nights in a row.
He told MailOnline: ‘You can’t stop people coming to an attraction. It’s like we’re stopping people from coming to Alton Towers.
‘Magaluf is known for it. Move to Palma. Palma is calmer. Don’t live here.
One of her friends said she had enjoyed her time in Magaluf, although she admitted that a group of prostitutes near the main Punta Balena strip had said they were just “5 for a blowjob”, which they rejected.
Protester Pere said he understood that tourism brought a lot of money to Mallorca, but said the government was poor at managing the industry. He stated that between 60 and 65 percent of the island’s businesses were focused on tourists.
A group of police officers are seen patrolling the streets of Magaluf, while a man in an elaborate suit, who appears to be wearing stilts, walks in the opposite direction.
Clubbers are seen crowding outside Magaluf’s popular Panama Jack bar.
Partiers walk down a street in Magaluf while enjoying a Spanish getaway
The student protester said: ‘The multinationals have closed. We lose the historic boutiques to buy bread or typical clothing. Many of them now focus on tourists. Pizza, sushi: (for) Spanish food there are fewer restaurants.
‘If you want to go to the beaches, there are more people.
‘(Tourists) generate social problems.
Pere insisted that his movement is not anti-tourism.
“The accusation against us is that we have a phobia of tourists,” he said. ‘We are not against tourists. We are fine with tourists, but not with the way it is (run) by the government.
“We understand tourists as an economic activity that is excellent for us, but there is a red line when tourists start to invade, (bringing) social problems.”
He said tourists consumed three times as much water as residents and drunken Brits were among the drunken locals taking up ambulance time.
Pere said the left-wing government of the last eight years only introduced anti-tourism legislation in its last year in office.
However, he said his band of groups would never give up in their “battle” against the tourists and anyone who disagreed with them.
Their next march through Palma is scheduled for July 21.
Last time, authorities claimed there were 10,000 people at the protests, although Pere says this figure was not reported.
Tourists showed off their buttocks while bathing naked on Magaluf beach over the weekend
A trio of partiers were seen taking a dip fully clothed, apparently after a long night of partying on the Magaluf Strip over the weekend.
His group estimated there were more than 25,000 protesters.
Still, the mayor of Calvià, the region in which Magaluf is located, has assured tourists that “all Britons are welcome.”
Mayor Juan Antonio Amengual stated: ‘We want people to enjoy their vacations with respect between tourists and residents.’
MailOnline has contacted the Government of the Balearic Islands for comment.