– Take your holidays somewhere else

Since the travel bans imposed due to the pandemic have been lifted, tourism worldwide has been on the rise. Popular tourist destinations in southern Europe have been particularly struggling with the growing number of visitors, including waves of disrespectful tourists.

Berta Sarrà and Sara Danyao Segura Escribano, Master's students of Education and Social Change at the University of Oslo, have both seen their homes change.

— Summer starts when a British person jumps off a balcony, says Sarrà, trying to illustrate the level of disruption tourism brings to her home city of Barcelona.

Having lived most of her life in Mallorca, Escribano on the other hand has seen the constant influx of tourists drastically change her home island and the lives lived there.

— [Mallorca] is such a small island, how do we fit this many people, she asks.

With the summer holidays approaching, the challenges of over-tourism are a timely concern. In this context, the Norwegian strategies towards managing incoming visitors offer valuable insights, highlighting how sustainable tourism practices can be implemented to address these issues and promote more responsible travel.

Spain, a Norwegian Favorite

There appears to be no way back from how tourism has disrupted Mallorca.

— I can’t imagine life in a different way, Escribano says. The local culture is slowly disappearing, especially through instances such as more and more restaurants catering to tourists by using languages like German instead of Mallorquí, the local dialect of Catalan.

This shift reflects a deeper sense of loss.

— The land doesn’t belong to us anymore. It’s so confusing, she says.

The cheap alcohol, lax restrictions, and harmful stereotypes of Spain as a carefree party destination attract reckless tourists to places like Mallorca and Barcelona.

— Every single summer there’s tourists that just get drunk and think it’s a good idea to jump off a balcony. This is the type of tourism that Spain does not want, Sarrà says.

The heavy partying and drinking not only trashes Spanish cities but contributes to a lack of safety perceived by the locals.

— It’s not normal that my parents cannot go for a nice walk at night because of the high chance of finding groups of drunk people, adds Sarrà.

Bringing Drinking Culture on Holiday

Ylva Jalling, a Norwegian Master's student of Development, Environment and Cultural Change at UiO, who herself visited Spain on a writing retreat, thinks that young Norwegian tourists are part of the problem surrounding disruptive tourism. 

— They are used to making their money's worth. Once they drink, they drink very hard, she explains, pointing out that in Norway there is a culture surrounding alcohol which associates heavy drinking with fun and socialising. Young Norwegians often then bring this culture with them on holiday.

Jalling also shares that many Norwegians are drawn to the warmth, affordability, and relaxed atmosphere of Spain. 

— We experience food, hotel, and tourist attractions as quite cheap, she explained. The lower cost of living makes Spain an attractive destination, especially for younger travellers looking for a budget-friendly vacation. She also believes that most Norwegians are not aware of their contribution in driving up the prices in the places they visit.

In fact, for many locals like Sarrà and Escribano, the places that were once home are now out of reach as they are being re-populated by tourists.

— Local people cannot afford to live here anymore. We are getting kicked out from our city. I decided to leave because my life there is not sustainable, says Escribano. 

She calls for governmental measures to counter the negative effects of over-tourism but the economic interest is too high. Nonetheless she maintains that in Mallorca they do not need tourists’ money to survive. 

Sarrà agrees with this sentiment. 

— Don’t just leave us the money and fuck up the city. I don’t want that money. I’ll get it from somewhere else, she says. 

Visit Norway?

The arrogant and chaotic approach to tourism that Spain experiences contrasts with the calmer, more conscious tourism seen in places like Norway, where local culture and nature are respected. 

— Oslo is so silent, peaceful. It was shocking, Escribano recalls thinking when she first arrived in Norway. 

She believes that the reason for this difference is that Spain is perceived as having a lower value compared to Norway and therefore tourists feel less guilt in disrupting its local life. 

Jalling thinks the reasons are different. 

— Tourism in Norway is much more oriented towards nature and culture, she observes, noting how this focus attracts a type of visitors less likely to be disruptive. 

Norway’s tourism industry is in fact carefully managed with an emphasis on sustainability and environmental protection. Tomas Norvoll from the Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Fisheries, the ministry responsible for domestic tourism, shares the government’s long-term vision for tourism.

— Tourism is one of the most important export industries in the country, but we know it can be challenging for local communities when many visitors arrive during peak season, he says, adding that the government’s goal is not to increase the number of tourists but to focus on creating year-round jobs and maintaining sustainability.

The Road towards Sustainable Tourism

So what is the way forward? The Norwegian example of promoting more sustainable, locally friendly tourism could be an inspiration for the Spanish government, but besides governmental action, every tourist can make a positive impact.

Planning a trip to Spain this summer? Sarrà has a word of wisdom for you.

— Go out because that’s part of the culture, but don’t go crazy with it. Be clean and respectful. 

Escribano also urges anyone traveling to Mallorca to shift their perspective. 

— Try to switch the lens through which you are looking at my island. Try to see it as a real place where real people live, and not just as a place for vacations.

She suggests that, for the next five years, travellers consider taking their holidays elsewhere to give the island the time it needs to recover. 

— If you love Spain, if you love Mallorca, if you love our culture, let us recover from all the damage. Let us build a better place that can accommodate tourism in a way that is beneficial for both of us. We don’t want to ban everyone forever, just maybe give us some time.