Spain continues to see protests linked to the sheer number of tourists entering the country each year. Just recently, a group of vandals torched and smashed up a total of 20 hire cars in the Canary Islands. Currently, no group has taken responsibility for the attack, but a video sent to Spanish news outlet Canarian Weekly suggests the vandalism act was carried out by anti-tourism activists.

Alongside the posted video was a statement, which read: “We have received this video from Canary Islands activists, exhausted by mass tourism, overpopulation in their neighbourhoods, and the complete lack of redistribution of the so-called wealth generated by tourism.” Mass anti-tourism protests have taken place also in other popular holiday destinations in Spain, including the Balearic Islands, last year.

These protests may have played a role in what appears to be a slowdown in bookings experienced this year by the Balearic Islands.

Data from TravelgateX suggested that the Balearic Islands have seen a mere 0.7% increase in bookings over the past week, compared to the previous period. However, the data did also reveal bookings were up by 22.5% compared to this time last year.

TravelgateX also found that the Balearics sat at fourth spot when it came to the most popular regions in Spain.

The data found that the Balearics fell behind the Canary Islands, Andalusia and Catalonia with Spanish travellers making up for the majority of bookings over the past week.

TravelgateX’s data saw Spanish travellers accounted for the lionshare of visitors, as they made 50.9% of bookings, whereas Brits came in at second place with 23.1% and significantly higher compared to Germans with 3.7% and Americans with 2.9%, reports the Mirror.

Storm Jana may also be a factor in the disappointing booking figures in Spain, as the country saw heavy rain and hail in the recent period, rather than the sunny weather and warm temperatures it’s famous for.

Despite the waning bookings in Spain and the apparent hostility, Sandra Laurie, a British expat in Spain, still believes the country is well worth visiting. There, she added, tourists are still welcomed with open arms.

Laurie told the Mirror: “This issue does not impact tourism directly, and in fact, Spain relies heavily on visitors to support the economy.

“Local businesses, restaurants, and shops have built their success on welcoming tourists from all over the world. If you have a trip planned don’t let the headlines deter you.

“The Costa del Sol and other popular destinations are buzzing with life. The beaches are packed, the pueblos are alive with energy, and both locals and tourists are soaking up the sun, relaxing, and making the most of everything Spain has to offer.”