Hundreds of protesters have blocked tourists from accessing a picture-perfect Menorcan beach in a ‘surprise action’ almost a week after a large demonstration on the neighbouring island of Mallorca.
The activists boasted of filling a car park next to Cala Turqueta, a beautiful cove on the island’s south coast, with “residents’ cars”.
Later, using towels and their own bodies, they drew the message ‘SOS Menorca’ in the sand next to the waterline.
The unannounced protest, organised by the non-profit environmental organisation GOB Menorca, resulted in the car park being “blocked” to tourists for around six hours from early yesterday morning, according to local reports.
Protesters also reportedly filled the first bus heading to Cala Turqueta to “prevent the arrival of tourists.”
Hundreds of protesters have prevented tourist access to a picture-perfect Menorcan beach called Cala Turqueta
Activists boasted of filling a car park next to Cala Turqueta, a beautiful cove on the island’s south coast, with ‘residents’ cars.
Pictured: Cala Turqueta, which is usually full of tourists lying on the beach and bathing.
The Menorca GOB insisted during the night: ‘This has not been a protest against tourism, but against overcrowding and the degradation that it entails’.
But admitting that the activists had carried out a well-orchestrated plan that ended up affecting tourists, he added: “250 people gathered in Cala Turqueta to demand a change of course for Menorca.
‘They filled the parking lot with neighbors’ cars and created messages in the sand with their towels and other things.
‘The images captured convey the concern of the Menorcan population about the overcrowding of the island.’
A spokesman said their actions were demanding the right to decent housing, the protection of the island’s natural resources, a diversified economy and the return of young people from abroad.
Yesterday’s protest was the first in the Balearic Islands since the demonstration against mass tourism last Sunday in the Mallorcan capital, Palma.
According to police, more than 20,000 people took part, although organisers put the number at 50,000.
Some protesters took advantage of Spain’s victory in the Euro 2016 final to mock English tourists, while others called British tourists “drunks.”
Yesterday’s protest (pictured) was the first in the Balearic Islands since last Sunday’s demonstration against mass tourism in the Mallorcan capital, Palma.
The banners they carried as they took to the streets of the island’s capital included one that read in a light-hearted pun on a photo of Kyle Walker: “The only thing that comes home is you,” followed by the 2-1 scoreline printed between the flags of England and Spain.
A similar sign, carried by another protester, pointed to the Germans, who also lost by the same scoreline in the Euro quarter-finals after Spain won at the last minute.
The message on the screen said in German: “Get out of here in the final.”
Another banner carried by the protesters read in English, despite regional government spokesman Antoni Costa’s pleas for locals to show “respect” to foreign visitors before the march: “Give back your drunks, give us back our homes.”
Other messages in English carried by some on cardboard signs read: “We used to have a life. SOS Residents” and “Enjoy balconing” in reference to the dangerous practice of jumping from hotel balconies into swimming pools or climbing between terraces, a practice that has been linked over the years to that linked to Britons partying in places such as Magaluf.
Hotel managers in Mallorca later claimed that some tourists had been insulted and sprayed with water, in a repeat of incidents earlier this month in Barcelona during a protest there against overcrowding, when visitors were sprayed with water pistols.
Yesterday’s protest in Menorca was the first since June 8 on the island, when around 1,000 people gathered in a central square in the capital, Mahón.
Yesterday’s protest in Menorca (pictured) was the first since June 8 on the island, when around 1,000 people gathered in a central square in the capital, Mahón.
Some of the residents taking part in the demonstration in the square in front of the island’s council headquarters appeared with deckchairs, towels and parasols as they simulated a beach for the day on the concrete.
The main organiser of this protest was also the GOB Menorca, the island branch of the GOB based in Palma, which played a prominent role in last Sunday’s demonstration in Mallorca.
It came after Ibiza tourists were warned to be prepared for a summer of “surprise actions” by protesters.
A ‘welcome party’ is expected for cruise ships arriving on July 24.
In a separate development, residents of a Menorcan village known as the “Spanish Mykonos” chained up all 22 entrances to prevent tourists from visiting at night earlier this year.
Visitors will only be able to access the streets of Binibeca Vell, on the south coast of Menorca, between 11:00 and 20:00.
Around 800,000 people flock to the town, which is actually a gated community, each year to take photos of the iconic vacation destination and post them on social media.
The residents say they have taken this measure to protest against the rest times. Next month they will have to decide whether to maintain the same access hours for the busiest periods of the season or to tighten the restrictions even further.