The authorities on the Spanish archipelago of the Balearic Islands have chosen to put their foot down. Against a specific tourist group: Influencers. The celebrities' followings can damage certain places, it is said, reports The Guardian.

The Spanish archipelago of the Balearic Islands, which includes both Mallorca and Ibiza, has long been a popular travel destination. 

However, there is overtourism in some places on the islands and because of that, the local authorities wanted influencers to share photos from less popular destinations. In this case, they got more than they hoped for, reports The Guardian.

Because what has happened is that tourists have started taking pictures of remote, but also environmentally sensitive parts of the islands, and then posting the pictures on social media.

“It has had the exact opposite effect to what was intended and goes against the government's policy of limiting tourism,” a spokesperson for the Balearic Islands' tourism department said this weekend, according to The Guardian.

The mayor appealed in a press conference

One area that has been hit by the influencer’s following is the small cove of Caló des Moro in Mallorca. The place, which can accommodate around 100 people, is now filled with thousands of visitors who want to enjoy its golden sands and pristine waters.

The number of visitors has become so high that in June last year, local mayor María Pons appealed to journalists and tour operators not to talk about the site. According to her, 4,000 people and 1,200 vehicles visited the site daily.

The Spanish population is angry

A major social problem across Spain is the lack of affordable housing. Many believe the main culprit is tourist apartments. Last year, the problem led to tens of thousands of people taking to the streets to demonstrate across the country, which is also something that is believed to have happened again this year, writes The Guardian.

Source: Expressen.se