Bar staff at Majorca’s notorious party resort Magaluf say they desperately “miss the English” after anti-tourism protests and strict alcohol restrictions have driven away big-spending British holidaymakers, leaving businesses facing their worst season in years.
Workers at the once-thriving party destination revealed that British tourists have been replaced by continental Europeans who spend a fraction of the money, with some Italian visitors sharing a single espresso between four people rather than drinking throughout the day.
The dramatic shift comes after the Balearic Government outlined plans earlier this year to “reduce dependence on traditional tourist markets, specifically Germany and the UK” as part of a 350-page sustainability strategy aimed at moving away from mass tourism.
British Exodus Leaves Bars Empty
Olly from Lineker’s Bar told The Telegraph that the transformation has been devastating for business: “This is usually a British destination, but this year there are zero. Instead we have the German, the French, Portuguese, Italians. But the problem is they book an all-inclusive hotel, then eat, drink and do everything in the hotel. They don’t go out for a party.”
The stark contrast in spending patterns has left bar owners longing for their traditional clientele. Carla, another staff member at Lineker’s, said: “The year started off well, but after June it got terrible.” She pointed out that British groups would typically arrive at 10am and drink through to the evening, whilst their replacements barely spend money.
Ann-Charlotte, a bartender at the Chili Lounge beachfront restaurant, echoed these sentiments about the new demographic: “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.”
Strict New Alcohol Laws Drive Away Party Tourism
The resort’s transformation has been accelerated by tough new restrictions introduced to curb excessive drinking. Under laws enforced since May 2024, tourists in designated areas of Magaluf, Playa de Palma, and San Antonio in Ibiza face fines of €500 to €1,500 (£433 to £1,301) if caught drinking alcohol outside authorised zones.
Shops selling alcohol must now close completely between 9:30pm and 8am in these areas, whilst all-inclusive hotels are limited to serving just six alcoholic drinks per guest per day – three at lunch and three at dinner. Happy hours, pub crawls, and two-for-one drink offers have been banned entirely.
The restrictions, which will remain in effect until at least December 2027, have fundamentally altered Magaluf’s party atmosphere. Even party boats are prohibited from sailing within one nautical mile of the resort or picking up passengers.
Tourism Numbers Tell Stark Story
Official figures reveal the scale of the British retreat from the Balearic Islands. Whilst May 2025 saw a 6% increase in British visitors overall, reaching 310,000, the summer season has painted a dramatically different picture, with numerous hotels reporting significant drops in British bookings.
The Majorca Hotel Business Federation (FEHM) has reported that hotels in various resorts are experiencing steep declines, with some businesses even allowing staff to take holidays during what should be peak trading weeks – an unprecedented move for July and August.
Meanwhile, anti-tourism protests have continued throughout 2025, with thousands marching through Palma demanding “Less Tourism, More Life.” In June, approximately 100 protesters surrounded tourists at bar terraces, jeering at them for half an hour whilst police shielded the holidaymakers.
Economic Reality Hits Home
Cat from Vibe Mallorca highlighted the economic miscalculation behind the strategy: “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.
She added bluntly: “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.”
Nathalie Reveny, assistant hotel manager at the Zafiro Palace PalmaNova, offered another perspective on the British absence: “Since the pandemic we’ve noticed a rise in last-minute bookings… Because the weather has been so beautiful back at home [in Britain], I think that has had a big effect.”
Government Stands Firm Despite Economic Impact
Despite mounting evidence of economic damage, the Balearic tourism minister Jaume Bauzá maintains that “tourismphobic” messages are not impacting tourism markets, insisting that “we can’t break records every year.” The government continues to push for what it calls “quality tourism,” defined as higher spending per visitor.
However, the reality on the ground tells a different story. Housing asylum seekers in hotels costs the UK government £5.77 million per day, yet Magaluf businesses report their takings are down by half since the restrictions and protests began.
Mixed Messages and Mounting Protests
The government’s position has been complicated by continued anti-tourism demonstrations. In one particularly hostile incident in June 2025, protesters occupied the popular Calo des Moro beach, declaring: “For one day Calo des Moro will belong to the Majorcans.”
A recent poll by the Majorca Daily Bulletin revealed that 44% of potential visitors would now think twice before booking a holiday to the island. Yet Susanna Sciacovelli, Director of Tourism Demand and Hospitality for Majorca’s council, maintains the island “lives off tourism,” with 87% of GDP and 40% of employment dependent on the sector.
British Loyalty Tested but Not Broken
Despite the protests and restrictions, some data suggests British tourists remain more loyal than others. Whilst German tourism fell by 2.3% and Spanish mainland visitors dropped by 10.7%, British numbers showed more resilience in early 2025, though summer figures paint a grimmer picture.
One veteran Mallorca hotelier told the Majorca Daily Bulletin: “The British have been coming on holiday here for decades, in fact they are our most loyal holidaymaker. Nothing is going to break their love affair with Mallorca.”
However, bar staff in Magaluf might disagree. As summer 2025 draws to a close, they’re left counting the cost of a strategy that has successfully driven away the very tourists who kept their businesses thriving – the free-spending British groups who would arrive in the morning and party until night.
The irony is palpable: in attempting to create a more upmarket destination, Magaluf has lost the customers who actually spent money, replacing them with more “respectable” tourists who contribute far less to the local economy.
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