Magaluf locals say they ‘miss Brits’ as holidaymakers dodge anti-tourism protests

Businesses in the Balearics have suffered thanks to a huge drop-off in the numbers of young Brits heading to Magaluf, leading to losses of up to 40% for businesses

Young Brits are shunning traditional coming-of-age holiday resort Magaluf, with locals now declaring they miss English money. Business owners in the Spanish party town have begged UK holidaymakers to return after suffering losses of up to 40% from last year.

The Majorca resort — famed for its cheap pints, full English breakfasts and iconic bars such as Lineker’s — was the go-to destination for Brits’ first holidays with pals and stag and hen party hotspot for 18-30s during the 2000s and 2010s.

It was dubbed “Shagaluf” due to its reputation as a destination for young Brits letting their hair down and enjoying wild parties, cheap alcohol and casual sex. But partygoers have been kicked in the Balearics after a wave of anti-tourism protests in recent years.

And local council chiefs have tried to attract more upmarket tourists than the traditional boozy Brits, banning drinking in public streets and with some all-inclusive hotels imposing a strict alcohol limit on guests.

However, bar owners say they miss the British cash flow and now have to rely on tourists tourists from elsewhere in Europe, many of whom just don’t splash the cash in the same way.

One bartender told the Telegraph: “The Italians, they don’t eat and drink. They come and share an espresso between four people. We miss the English, because the English spend money.”

Meanwhile, an excursion seller said: “If you have guys in their 20s, they make money and they come here and spend €1,000 in one week. It’s never going to be the same when a family of four comes to stay here. We have the marina, water park and golf, but they don’t want to book it.

“The biggest problem is people take an Airbnb, cook in there and buy everything in the supermarket, and don’t go out. They should stick with the young lads.”

Manuel Pozueco, who manages the iconic British bar Lineker’s, claimed local politicians had a “plan to destroy the businesses outside the hotels.”

He told the Daily Mail: “Under the recent laws, we can’t do happy hours or give away free shots, we can’t do any drink deals, as they see it as promoting excessive alcohol consumption, and of course this turns away traditional customers like the Brits.

“They want to destroy the Magaluf we’ve known for decades. And now look, there are no British tourists this year, everyone is going to Benidorm or Torrevieja.”

Gabi Carbonell, 52, owns four businesses along Magaluf’s strip, including the Stereo nightclub, and said it’s now “too expensive” for young Brits to party in the town and the stricter laws are hurting bars.

He told the Mail: “This week used to have lots of hen and stag dos but now they go to Benidorm, where there are fewer rules and it is cheaper. It’s like the authorities want to make us boring. During the day the strip is now a ghost town, nothing really opens until 8pm, but the hotels will be full.”

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