Price hikes on a tourist island popular with sunseeking Brits have prompted many to ‘abandon’ the destination.
Majorca’s tourism industry is in crisis after increasing marina costs, which are said to be driving away tourists in their droves. The hike has hit the multi-million pound yacht industry, one industry leader claimed.
Ports in Majorca have long been used by the vessels for mooring for leisurely trips. But one senior figure has warned of an impact to the Spanish island’s economy, with many pleasure seekers abandoning the ports as a result of spiralling costs.
Alex Casares said that the smaller yacht operators were most struggling to pay the rising costs, while the larger vessels “have no economic problems”. “Yachts are leaving Majorca because of the high price of marinas,” the president of the Association for the Nautical Development of Businesses and the Self-Employed told Majorca Daily Bulletin.
“This especially affects boats between 15 and 30 metres in length,” he added. His comments come off the back of a wave of protests on the island over concerns about the impact of over-tourism.
Thousands took to the streets in Palma, the island’s capital, in July demonstrating about the impact of mass tourism. One political party even urged officials to slash the number of beds available for tourists by 40% and introduce a cap on annual visitor numbers.
The ADNEA president added that prices had risen by as much as 30% in recent years, Express.co.uk reports, putting the island at risk of losing its prominence as a nautical docking spot amid growing popularity in other nearby tourist destinations, including Catalonia and Valencia.
He links the hikes to worker shortages and a lack of incentive from the authorities to grow and expand Majorca’s nautical industry. “A few years ago, we had a waiting [list] for ports or marinas, but it’s getting shorter,” he said.
“We run the risk that there will be fewer and fewer until we lose the prominent position we have enjoyed over the years. Many nautical companies in the Balearics have to reject projects due to lack of workers.
“As in other specialised sectors, the nautical sector faces difficulties in finding skilled labour [and] due to the shortage of workers and the high cost of port facilities, many companies are forced to turn down work.”
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