Anti tourist feeling in Ibiza
There is a rising anti tourist feeling not only in Ibiza but across Spain as a whole at the moment.
This sentiment has been slowly building for many years with an increase of tourist numbers, mainly in the summer season, bringing endless problems to the island and islanders.
These range from excessive littering, an anything goes attitude to higher or impossible rents for locals as property owners try and get more income in the summer months than for renting all year round.
Anti social behaviour surrounding drink, drugs, prostitution, pirate taxis all added into the mix makes for a genuine argument that tourism should be managed, controlled and sustainable.
All these problems have been well documented over recent years and the feeling against mass tourism has reached fever pitch with protests being carried out in recent weeks across Spain.
We understand their point completely our paradise is their home and there has to be a balance between tourism as the major income against the needs of residents and locals.
This balance is, without doubt, a very difficult one to achieve but what we have seen and read over recent weeks makes us believe that Ibiza may see a downturn in tourist numbers and in spending over the coming years.
The saturation of tourists has now started to put people off especially in the peak months and although we are still in August several people have said it’s starting to feel quieter already, a feeling which is not normally experienced until September.
a recent beach protest against tourism in Palma, Spain
The Pound Euro rate has dipped and some experts are saying parity (1 pound = 1 Euro) could be reached by the end of 2017 early 2018.
This would make Ibiza even more expensive and out of the reach of many families who are looking for a general beach holiday, not necessarily a unique clubbing holiday.
Already this year with the rate dipping under 1.10 euros to the pound we keep hearing “there are lots of people but they spend very little” from business owners island wide.
5 star venues 2 star service, Danny Kay recently touched on this in an article but it seems many venues have aimed for a VIP experience at a VIP price tag but are failing to deliver which will do huge harm to not only their business but to the island as a whole.
Also paying VIP prices doesn’t necessarily mean you get a better class of tourist than those paying much less. Those that believe you can improve the quality of tourists by offering a more expensive experience seem to have been misguided.
Next year will see Tunisia back on the regular schedules of many holiday companies after the foreign office changed its advice for the area which will draw many beach / general getaway tourists including many families away from Ibiza who are looking for something cheaper yet suited to their needs.
For those who come to Ibiza just for the partying and clubbing cracks are also starting to appear. Some clubs no longer open 7 days a week, others are offering drinks deals with ticket offers for the first time.
Others are over selling tickets cramming their clubs and it’s starting to put people off. We have seen many more comments regarding we couldn’t dance, it was too busy and wouldn’t go back it was like being in a sardine can.
With the rise of illegal villa parties which have now become big business across the island not only the immediate impact of these on neighbours and others staying nearby being put off, it seems that the ever growing clampdown on genuine venues is having some very negative side effects.
As an example many clubbers leave the big clubs just as the sun starts to come up and with many staying in San Antonio they make their way to the beach where they sit and maybe have another beer or two and wind down as the sun rises.
There is no after party venue for them to go to and in general sitting on the beach is no real issue, however, the side effect is the rubbish and the way it is portrayed to others up early enjoying Ibiza who are not into the club scene.
San Antonio in the early morning with clubbers winding down
The picture speaks for itself and this has started making headlines not only due to the rubbish but also the general atmosphere it creates, putting people off returning especially families.
The councils across the island are adding more and more restrictions to the venues, beach clubs and are restricting new licenses but they seem to be failing to look at the consequences of this.
Making sweeping changes is great but when they are not thought through these changes inherently cause more problems in the short and medium term than they may actually solve in the long term.
Take the West End it has its problems and its charm but the council has said enough is enough imposing restriction after restriction over many years. The latest has been the removal of terraces at midnight (or 2am if no music played at the venue).
Already this has made it easier for the pick pockets and others to prey on those who have had one too many.
Businesses are seeing takings down by a reportedly 25% and the noise which was fairly well contained in the West End is now spread across a much wider area as people drift off to continue to party elsewhere be it at venues, their hotels, villas or open spaces.
Brexit which is the elephant in the room is a huge unknown apart from its effect on exchange rates but this may also play a part in the future too.
If you add everything above and a few more issues Ibiza has suffered this year, the cleaning and security strikes at the airport, lack of official taxi’s, fewer hotels allowing children to stay for example it seems a natural self induced downturn may well be on the cards.
Now the true Ibiza lovers will continue to return alongside the first timers but it’s those first timers who may now turn into one timers who will happily tell people why they wouldn’t return putting off even more people.
So as our headline reads Could the anti tourist feeling solve itself in Ibiza we think it will and not necessarily because of any major changes made but because Ibiza 2017 has faced lots of small problems which have added up to many people being put off returning again.
Yes, changes are needed, improvements made, new thinking added into the mix as the current situation cannot continue.
Above all the island needs to embrace what it has and work out how to use it to find the balance for the good of all to make a sustainable tourism solution.
Or if not in 4 or 5 years time will we be seeing protests on the other side desperate for tourist numbers to increase again.
There will be a part two to this article coming soon looking at what Ibiza could do to improve itself and make it more sustainable for the future. Ideas on a postcard or in the comments section below, please.
We’ve just returned after nearly 3 weeks (family of 4) we’ve been 13 times now since ’96 and this year we felt compared to other years a marked decrease in customer service from many staff in shops,I was asked to show the contents of my handbag by the cashier but out of many customers (all Spanish) I was the only one checked which made me feel very uncomfortable. In one restaurant a Spanish group received their food way before us even though they arrived well after us.We also saw a sign telling tourists to keep away but the tourists bring an awful lot of money to Ibiza and keep a lot of people in work,sadly we are having second thoughts about returning next year which is a shame as we love the island
Hi Jo,
Thank you for your comments could I ask which part of the island where you staying in please. You are not the only one to suffer the drop in service sad to say but we hope you will find it in your heart to return when the time is right in the future.
Best wishes
Tristan
Hello, nice article, it’s true Ibiza has changed for the worst. We are a couple (65+) from the Netherlands and have been for 4 years mainly in Santa Eulalia as pensioners. Santa Eulalia begins to look like San Antonio, everywhere you see mostly drunk fat loudspeaking english people with undressed torsos showing there tattoos and behave like they own the island. House rentals are doubled in the last 4 years. Every house owner try to rip you off, 1 year’s rent on front and 2 months deposit seems to be the norm and don’t expect to see you deposit back. Everybody who nows a flat for rent suddenly became a real estate agent. The kindness typical of Ibiza is not always obvious. There is often a financial gain for money. People drive like crazy and there are weekly reports of deadly accidents. No we have second thoughts about Ibiza and consider to go back to Holland before we end up sleeping in our car of on the beach as it happens to so many who have reach the point of no return.
Hi Roberto,
Thank you for the insights so many sad things happening to Ibiza at the moment.
Best wishes
Tristan
Great article, and it is sad to read the comments made by Jo. The article throws up a number of points, not least of which is that it is important to have empathy for the locals who find themselves trapped economically by the tourism bubble. I use the word ‘bubble’ deliberately, and Ibiza needs to take care. Economic bubbles can burst. This situation has been fuelled by unfettered growth and, unfortunately, greed. Let’s start with the season. It is wilfully short, as business tries to make as much as possible in the shortest of time scales. I have holidayed on Minorca in April, and Majorca in October – late October, with flights and all services readily available and open. Ibiza? Why on earth does the ‘season’ start sometime in May to close end of September? Madness. There are moves by some to extend this season, but they seem thwarted by the local airport authority and ferry operators. Prices are also a point of contention. There are lots of excellent places to stay and also eat that are still reasonable, offer great value, whilst providing courteous service, but they are getting increasingly scarce. Alarm bells should be ringing. Loudly. Not everybody is a yacht owning Blue Marlin or Nikki Beach customer (thank god), and local business owners need to be aware they are going to have to find about one million of them a year – every year – if the VIP route goes too far. As for the ‘terraces’ vanishing from San’ An’? Good. There does need to be a re-think about certain areas of the urine drenched The West End. It may seem I’m a bit of an anti Ibiza type, but you’d be wrong. I adore the place, have family that live there, and visit very regularly each year. There are many changes afoot on the island (nothing is forever), and, at last, it is not all being dictated by the families on the island that have made vast amounts of money over the years, but outside investors. These investors are not going to try recoup there monies on a four/five month season, so doubtless it is going to become a year round resort (at last). A longer season stands a chance of slowing ridiculous rent and property prices, and some of the international investors are likely to put the airport/ferry authorities under considerable pressure to increase resources throughout the year. This could also bring some greater stability to employment opportunities across a spectrum of occupations. And let us not forget, some have made a LOT of money in past years, with what seems little regard for inward investment in the island. No doubt some of these are those resisting the change that external investment is likely to influence in the near future. The status quo is on the move, it’ll be interesting to see how things develop. As for the drunken louts bearing flesh & tattoo’s (English, Dutch, Irish, Italian…. shall I go on?), they are all over Europe. Ibiza is only tiny – they stand out more. Ibiza still has lots and lots to offer, it’s far from a basket case (yet), and if you get bad service – TELL THEM! Your money is just as good as anybody’s. Got lots more to say, but said enough for now, it’s a fabulous place, even with growing draw-backs. Hope to be back there some time in Sept’ or early Oct’. Would go in November, but guess what. No flights!
Hi David,
Thank you for your comments we will have more on this over the coming weeks so please look out for the articles and more thoughts always welcome.
Best wishes
Tristan
I have been going ibiza since 2005 every year and upto 3 times in a year in my younger day lol. breaks me to say that i have opted not to return again. and my feeling is the spirit of ibiza has sadly died. VIP IS THE WORST of the island and i feel the average tourist is not welcome here anymore. you can dress ibiza up in the latest clothes however simply the island would not function without the clubbers they are the beating soul of ibiza yet the owners and bouncers and bar staff are rude and in it for the cash. we was spat on from the vip balcony in amnesia and we could not move a muscle as there was overcrowding yet again.. i used to leave the island in tears as i was desperate to get back. sorry but that wont happen again.