A group devoted to fighting overtourism has posted warning signs in English at a number of beaches on Mallorca, largest of Spain’s Balearic Islands, with small-type text below it in Catalan, letting local residents know the dire warnings aren’t for real.
Among the dangers warned of are poisonous jellyfish, falling rocks and overcrowded beaches, as seen above. The text aimed at locals on the jellyfish sign translates to “Open beach. Not to jellyfish or foreigners.” The falling rocks sign says “Enter, there’s no peril of landslide, only of overcrowding.” Other signs claim that the beach is closed, or is a three-hour walk away, although it is only 90 metres.
The group behind the pranks, if that’s the word, is called Manacor Caterva, which says that it’s criticizing “the tourist overcrowding that Mallorca suffers,” and that “the coves of the Balearic Islands have been expropriated by tourism.” Tourism accounts for about 75% or the island’s economy.
