A Spanish woman who returned to Majorca after living abroad for over three years has said she was upset by what she saw when she came back. Carol Vásquez had been living in the Caribbean resort town of Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic for over three years when she decided to return to Spain and visit the Balearic island where she grew up.
Return during peak season
Upon her return to see family this summer, Carol was disappointed by what she saw when she arrived during peak tourism season. Majorca is a popular holiday destination, especially for Britons, who flock to the region for its white sandy beaches, crystal-clear seas, hot weather, incredible food and other tourism-related activities.
Yet, this annual influx of tourists from the UK and elsewhere in Europe has created tension among the locals who, along with local politicians, have pushed back against overtourism in the region. Overtourism has been reported in a number of popular European destinations, including the Spanish and Greek islands and Italy.
Local's TikTok dismay
It was the sheer number of tourists and their impact that Carol was troubled by, so much so that she took to TikTok to share her dismay. She confessed that she felt "a bit sad" by what she saw and that it had changed how she viewed her home, reports the Mirror.
The content creator explained: "I am feeling a bit sad because I am from Majorca. I have actually lived in Punta Cana for three and a half years, and every time I come back to Majorca, especially now in the summer, I don't enjoy it. I get really overwhelmed because there are many tourists. There are so many tourists that the local people cannot enjoy the island."
Ms Vásquez clarified that her concerns about Majorca weren't just around the beaches but other areas where year-round residents traditionally congregate and are impacted by the thousands of tourists. She continued: "I'm not talking about the beaches anymore; I'm talking about the town centre, the places where we've always gone to eat."
Ms Vásquez went on to add that there was "no way to enjoy the island" and that the sole means of doing so involved "dodging people".
Experts warn of displacement
Carol's comments came after locals expressed their dismay at the state of life for them on the island, with experts warning that they felt "dispossessed of their territory" after another busy summer season. Pere Salva, professor emeritus of human geography at the University of the Balearic Islands, said there was a feeling amongst locals that they had lost their home.
He explained: "We have the perception that our island no longer belongs to us. The isolation imposed on residents is internal, as Mallorcans are being displaced and dispossessed of their territory. We are heading towards a trend in which residents are becoming isolated within the island itself."
However, Professor Salvà added that Majorcan locals weren't against tourism, and understood its benefits to the region, but just felt they were saturated in its impacts. He said: "Generally speaking, there isn't tourismphobia in Majorca. What exists is a feeling and perception of saturation of tourism and its related activities; not with tourists. This is the result of our physical and daily experience, linked to the feeling that we have exceeded our limit of resistance."
