Residents of Binibeca Vell, a lovely village in Menorca, will vote on a proposal to ban all tourists from their community due to dissatisfaction with the high number of visitors.
Binibeca Vell, known for its white houses and beautiful streets, attracts around 800,000 tourists annually, with a local population of only 500.
The locals have expressed frustration over tourist tourists, such as trespassing on private property, disrupting daily life for social media photos, and not respecting local customs.
To address these issues, the village has implemented measures like restricting visitor access to private roads during certain times and blocking all 22 entrances to control the flow of tourists.
Edoardo Gomez, a resident, highlighted the problem: “Tourists” touch everything and their daily lives.”
The village has also shared images of tourists misusing private spaces on its website to raise awareness about the issue. However, there are concerns about the economic impact of a complete tourist ban, as many local businesses heavily depend on tourist traffic.
Oscar Monge, president of the Binibeca Vell Community of Property Owners, emphasized the need for regulation while recognizing the importance of tourism.
He criticized the island council for not effectively managing visitor numbers and withdrawing a grant for waste management. Monge said, “We don’t” do anything against tourism, but sometimes it feels like we live in Disneyland.
The discontent with tourism is part of a broader trend in the Balearic Islands. In 2023, the islands recorded 18 million tourists, leading to similar protests in Majorca, Ibiza, and other popular destinations. Some locals have even resorted to graffiti and protests to express their frustration.
TUI acknowledged the region and advised travellers to consider other holiday destinations.
As Binibeca Vell prepares for its vote, the outcome will be closely watched as it may influence other tourist-heavy locations facing similar challenges.
