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The ongoing anti-tourist sentiments that have been souring much of Spain this year have taken a far more sinister turn in Mallorca, where graffiti has appeared urging people to “kill a tourist”. These hateful messages have sparked outrage, with the conservative People’s Party (PP), which governs the locality, strongly condemning the acts of vandalism, calling them “totally unjustified.”

 

A party spokesperson said they have witnessed a “worrying proliferation of graffiti with tourism-phobic messages” in the town.

 

Maria Antonia Sanso Jaume, PP spokesperson, wrote on X: “This graffiti does not represent, in any case, the majority feeling of the residents of Manacor.

 

“Tourists are welcome to visit our island.”

 

The latest act of vandalism flies in the face of the message of love and tolerance that one group of locals is trying to spread. They recently launched the “We Love Tourism Mallorca” platform to express their gratitude to visitors and send a message of appreciation to holidaymakers.

 

In a novel move, these individuals, mostly from the capital of Palma, took to the streets before and during a recent demonstration against overcrowding, placing stickers on protest posters and handing out cards with a simple yet powerful message: “We love you.”

 

The rise in anti-tourist sentiments across the Canary Islands and Balearic Islands has sparked concerns about the potential for more extreme actions. Overcrowding has become a significant issue in these popular holiday destinations, leading authorities to implement measures like additional taxes on tourists or banning new hotels.

 

But the ill-feeling continues to grow, and a few days ago, more than 10,000 protesters marched through the streets of Palma carrying placards with derogatory slogans like “Take back your drunks – give back our homes” and “Your paradise, our nightmare.”

 

 

Image: PP