Hostel owner so convinced Majorca has too many tourists they're prepared to take major hit
Alvaro Vicens says his island is "unrecognisable" as "we have sold our land and, little by little, our culture, with impunity."
Spanish locals living in Majorca would be willing to take a financial hit if it meant less tourists visited the island, a resident on the island has claimed.
Anti-tourism protests have been seen across Spain in recent months as locals say their hometowns and cities are becoming too crowded.
Many are also aggrieved as rent costs surge due to tourists driving up the prices.
Speaking to the Daily Express, hostel owner Alvaro Vicens explained why he and many others feel that the number of tourists visiting Majorca needs to be restricted.
He said: "The problem of tourism saturation is already very serious. We have reached a point where it is difficult to live. For those of us who were born here and have seen Mallorca 40 years ago, it is unrecognisable.
"The freedom we had when we were children to be able to go freely everywhere, now our children can't do it.
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"The massive purchase of all the fincas and mountain houses by foreigners has also meant that all the roads that we used to be able to travel freely when we were young have been closed."
Tourism accounts for 40 percent of Majorca's economy, with many locals starting up restaurants or hotels to cash in on the industry.
Avlaro is one of these people, running a hostel in the town of Soller.
But he says he would be willing to take a financial hit to ensure that Majorca's culture is preserved.
He said: "Added to this is the nervousness of the people, generated by the traffic, stress and pace of life, which means that we have gone from living on "The island of calm" to living on "The island of patience".
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"As far as our business is concerned, it may have an impact, but I would gladly pay that price to be able to go back to LIVE in my homeland. Our hostel is open all year round and is focused on mountain sports, I am not afraid of a hypothetical drastic reduction in tourism, I hope it will come one day.
"Unfortunately, many people don't think like that and it will never be enough for them. The airport is still expanding, that's what I am afraid of.
"On the other hand, the culture of silence' that has always reigned in Balearic culture has meant that we have sold our land and, little by little, our culture, with impunity."