Mallorca on the Fodor's "No List"? That sounds dramatic at first. The renowned US travel guide actually advises its readers not to travel to Europe's most popular vacation island in 2025. The reason: the island is - would you believe it - too popular.
But before the suitcases with bath towels are swapped for the beaches of northern Germany: This is not a call for a boycott, but a warning. A reminder that even paradisiacal places like Mallorca can suffer from their success.
A victim of her own beauty
According to Fodor's, Mallorca is simply too breathtakingly beautiful, too culturally significant and too fascinating. However, this is precisely what is becoming the island's downfall. Vacation apartments are replacing rental apartments for locals, rental prices are exploding and nature is also feeling the effects of the swarms of tourists. The governments are accused of putting the needs of holidaymakers above those of the islanders - which is understandably difficult for the latter to bear.
Why vacationers are also suffering
But not everything runs smoothly for tourists either. Overcrowded beaches, long queues in front of sights and the palpable resentment of the locals make the vacation less of a paradise. After all, nobody wants to be on an island where they feel like an intruder.
Not a boycott, but a wake-up call
Fodor's makes it clear that the "No List" is not intended to trigger an economic boycott. Instead, the aim is to draw attention to the grievances. "The first step to solving a problem is to recognize that there is one." In other words: Mallorca needs to wake up before paradise turns into a nightmare.
Amsterdam shows the way
Amsterdam shows that there is another way. The Dutch capital has taken drastic measures to combat overtourism: Cruise ships are no longer allowed to dock, the number of vacation apartments has been reduced by 30 percent, and new hotels? Not even being built.
Mallorca could learn from this approach. Fewer cruise ships, stricter rules for vacation rentals and a focus on sustainable tourism could restore the balance between tourists and locals.
Mallorca: A wake-up call, not a rejection
Mallorca should see its inclusion on the "No List" not as a blow, but as an opportunity. It is an invitation to reinvent itself and remain worth living in the long term for locals and vacationers alike. Perhaps in 2025 the island will show that it is more than just sun, sand and sangria - namely a place that has the courage to protect itself.
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