Jet2.com and Jet2holidays CEO Steve Heapy has said the travel industry needs to be prepared to respond to customer concerns over anti-tourism protests in Spain.
Steve told a roundtable event at the Spanish Embassy in London this week that there’s unease among some holidaymakers over the protests, The Independent reports.
“We’ve had people ringing the call centre and going into travel agents, asking questions like ‘is Spain safe’, ‘are we still welcome in the resort’,” Steve said.
The concern follows a wave of anti-tourist protests in Spain recently, including protesters with banners demanding that tourists ‘go home’ and anti-tourism messages sprayed on buildings.
Steve said unlicensed tourism properties are fuelling the protests, adding: “It is becoming a big issue unfortunately, and perception becomes truth.”
He said ‘unlicensed tourism’ – such as people staying in private accommodation listed on Airbnb – is ‘causing a huge problem’ and ‘needs to be controlled’.
However, Spanish Tourist Office Director in London Manuel Butler said it is ‘important to distinguish between specific local tensions and the broader national picture’.
He said: “Where protests have occurred – in cities such as Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca and Santa Cruz – concerns stem from broader societal issues: housing pressures, rising costs of living, and environmental strain in high-density areas.”
Manuel added: “The vast majority of Spain remains enthusiastic in welcoming tourists.”
Earlier this year, Steve warned the Canary Islands could lose UK visitors to more welcoming destinations because of rising prices and anti-tourism protests.
