The sun has come out
and the tourist season is set to begin in Mallorca; if indeed, there ever was a
break. Palma has been deseasonalised. During winter, you still can't find free
parking easily... although as a learner driver, by easy parking I mean two
large empty spaces nicely lined up!
Tourism-focused articles from local newspapers have been cropping up in my Facebook feed lately,
eliciting comments which have sent little currents of fury shooting through me.
A planned protest against 'massification' has got readers huffing and
puffing. The article refers to the colossal 6,000+ passenger cruise ships, which includes the Royal Caribbean Symphony of
the Seas.
What a joke of a name. Symphony sounds so melodious, so
harmonious...
According to Andy
Rawson, author and founder of Mallorca Days Out:
"During a one week cruise
this monster can produce half a million gallons of sewage, 2 million gallons of
dirty water, 250 gallons of hazardous waste and 50,000 gallons of oily bilge
water," and he adds, "multiply all that by about 350 ships which come
to Palma every year."
They should rename the
cruise: The Curse of the Seas. It would be far more apt.
With every news piece
related to new regulations, with every attempt to defend the environment, there's
always an accompanying indignant outcry:
"Yeah but no tourists, no money!"
"What are you
going to do without us, Mallorca?"
"If you piss us
off, we'll just sod off to... to Malta! See how you like that!"
"Don't you
realise you'll all be out of job if you stop us doing exactly what we
want!"
It's like hundreds of
sulky kids stomping their feet because they can't eat a fifth serving of cake.
When did tourists go
from being visitors to spoilt brats? Why should they be appeased at all costs
to the detriment of the island and the locals?
Yes, the island needs a thriving tourism industry, but I'd argue
that it doesn't need to debase itself and risk being ruined for future
generations. It's a relationship - is an abusive relationship better than none
at all?
Fortunately, I don't
think 'none at all' is very likely. It certainly doesn't feel like Mallorca has
to worry about a shortage of visitors just yet. As its friend, I would tell it
not to give in to those who want to take advantage and leave it worse off. If
Mallorca were a person, I'd tell it to choose a relationship where the respect
is equal and the benefits are mutual. I'd say, Mallorca babe, you deserve better.
***
Now here's a fun holiday read for all the lovely tourists visiting Mallorca and beyond!
