Latest news with #BalearicIslands
Telegraph
2 hours ago
- Telegraph
How a disastrous tourism strategy ruined one of Mallorca's last unspoilt corners
Last summer as many as 4,000 visitors and 1,200 cars descended daily on Caló des Moro in the south-east of Mallorca. A tiny cove which at best, can only accommodate about 100 people. Unlike Es Trenc – a 25-minute drive away, with its two-kilometres of fine white sand, safe swimming, facilities and ample parking – Caló des Moro is cramped and rocky and reaching it requires a long schlep along rough tracks. Yet hordes of people attempted to navigate this descent, often turning back due to the long wait and extreme heat. There are no amenities and only a tiny strip of sand, meaning most visitors have to perch on uncomfortable rocks – if they can find a space at all. Mallorca has more than 260 lush beaches, many of which are far more bewitching than diminutive Caló des Moro. So how on earth did this disaster unfold? Last summer, in an attempt to direct tourists away from island hotspots such as Cala de Deià in the north-west (mobbed from June to October), social media influencers were encouraged by some island tourism entities to visit this petite cove and other lesser-known spots. The well-meant strategy backfired, however, and before long influencers had turned Caló des Moro into a chaotic jam of tourists, with the social media set's beguiling images and videos of Mallorca's 'best kept secret' luring their followers to the beach in droves. To date, 1,300 videos of the cove have been uploaded to the TikTok platform, receiving an estimated 10 million views globally. Instagram currently has 30 associated hashtags. @handluggageonly This is my favourite beach on the Island of Mallorca! Caló des Moro is a totally beautiful cove. The beach is gorgeous, especially for the crystal-clear turquoise waters, white sand, and dramatic cliffs (which you have to ramble across to get here. Yeah, you will get sweaty but it's worth it). Best of all, the beach is located only about 5 kilometers from the town of Santanyí, which we loved and can be reached in your car or by a short hike from the nearby Cala Llombards beach. In fact, do both at once. It's such a great thing to do in Mallorca when you visit on holiday. ♬ original sound - Hand Luggage Only Frustrated locals voiced their outrage, prompting the citizen movement, Mallorca Platja Tour, to stage a protest attended by more than 300 people. Bewildered tourists were pressured to leave the area, while victorious locals occupied every inch of space on the rocks and sand. Martí Picornell, Head of Communications at the local Santanyi Town Council, responded by saying: 'The Santanyí Tourism Department hasn't used the image of Caló des Moro for publicity purposes in years. Local residents are exhausted by the situation, which is why the decision was taken. This unwanted social media coverage is the worst. People go to the cove just to take selfies and nothing more.' Environmental impact The repercussions go far beyond disgruntled locals, with heavy footfall in areas of such natural beauty having a troubling environmental impact. Sergio Ruiz Halpern, a marine biologist at Save the Med, comments: 'Caló des Moro is a paradise, not just for humans. It harbours rich and biodiverse ecosystems. The sheer volume of visitors in peak season crushes native land and sea ecosystems alike. We simply cannot sustain this level of pressure.' Meanwhile, Isabel Moreno Castillo, also a marine biologist, and former Head of Biology at the University of the Balearics (UIB) says: 'Beaches are constantly shifting ecosystems – they change every single day, shaped by the wind and the waves. 'When beach-goers step on the fragile, endemic plants that hold the sand in place, that stability is lost and even a gentle breeze can begin to erode the beach.' Jaume Bauzá, Minister of Tourism in the Balearic Regional Government, is keen to avoid a repeat of last year's fiasco. 'We have taken the decision not to actively promote the cove or other highly frequented areas in international campaigns,' he says. 'Our mission is to de-seasonalise and spread visitation throughout the calendar year, rather than have tourism arrivals concentrated during the summer months.' Further curbs Meanwhile, the other Balearic islands – Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera – are also taking steps to manage tourism sustainably during the summer season. These include seasonal vehicle quotas in Formentera, while Menorcan authorities have prohibited boats from anchoring over Posidonia oceanica (seagrass) meadows, and limited car access to many beaches. From June 1 to September 30, Ibiza will set a daily cap of approximately 20,000 tourist and rental vehicles, as well as setting daily visitor limits, and restricting beach access. Isabel Moreno remains upbeat. 'Preserving our beaches doesn't mean closing them. We just need to manage them wisely, guiding people with information, limiting visitor numbers when necessary, and making small changes such as the creation of elevated paths and boardwalks that help reduce ecological impact.' Such strategies have been implemented in Cala Deià, for example, where an automatic electronic barrier closes when the car park reaches full capacity, and local police monitor traffic flow during peak times. But perhaps the real solution is even more obvious – minimising chaos by simply publicising enclaves that can cope with large visitor numbers, such as Playa de Formentor, a kilometre-long Blue Flag beach in the north, or the likes of Es Caragol on the southern tip of Mallorca, with its 500 metres of fine white sand and turquoise waters. Locals and tourists have long shared the island's beautiful corners, and – though they might not all be trending on social media – there are still plenty to go around.
Daily Mail
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Michelle Obama enjoys intimate lunch with surprising date as she jets off on lavish Spain getaway WITHOUT Barack
Michelle Obama was pictured enjoying lunch at an exclusive club on the idyllic Spanish island of Mallorca. In photos obtained exclusively by the Daily Mail, the former first lady, 61, kept a low profile in large, stylish sunglasses and a multi-colored print dress, while dining at The Lobster Club in Puerto Portals.
The Sun
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Katie Price almost bursts out of barely there red bikini on last day of boozy Ibiza holiday
KATIE Price is making sure her last day in Ibiza is going out with a bang, as she almost burst out of her barely there red bikini. The former glamour model, 47, opted for the tiniest two-piece she could find as she continued her boozy holiday on the party isle. 3 3 Katie opted for a tiny red bikini to wear on her last day in Ibiza, as she enjoyed some tapas. The star almost spilled out of the swimwear as the tiny top struggled to maintain her huge boobs. Katie pulled her dark locks up in a high ponytail to show off the snatched results of her recent £10k facelift. The mum-of-five posted her sexy snap on her Instagram Stories, as she revealed it was the last day of her holiday. It came just days after she opted for the same red two-piece as she partied with MMA fighter Conor McGregor and Tottenham star Kevin Danson. This came after she flashed her bum in Barbie-print swimwear as she again hit Wayne Lineker 's iconic O Beach Club. She was also snapped in another barely-there bikini alongside Wayne, with no sign of JJ Slater on this trip. SPARKING CONCERN Despite looking like she is having the time of her life in Ibiza, Katie has sparked some concern with fans. Fans have started to question if the reality TV star is "OK", as she continues to show off her very tiny frame in her recent selfies. It came after another vacation image saw her posing in a pink halterneck bikini top and sunglasses. She showed off her tiny frame and surgically enhanced breasts - and fans rushed to comment, sharing concerns over former glamour model Katie's weight loss. One wrote: 'Soo soo sad to see Katie like this.. I hope she goes and gets the help she needs.' Another said: 'Oh sweetheart, you seem so unwell. Wish you'd seek help.' And a third added: 'Why isn't someone providing support to Katie .. this is so sad to see.' Katie Price's Surgery: A Timeline 1998 - Katie underwent her first breast augmentation taking her from a natural B cup to a C cup. She also had her first liposuction 1999 - Katie had two more boob jobs in the same year, one taking her from a C cup to a D cup, and then up to an F cup 2006 - Katie went under the knife to take her breasts up to a G cup 2007 - Katie had a rhinoplasty and veneers on her teeth 2008 - Katie stunned fans by reducing her breasts from an F cup to a C cup 2011 - Going back to an F cup, Katie also underwent body-contouring treatment and cheek and lip fillers 2014/5 - Following a nasty infection, Katie had her breast implants removed 2016 - Opting for bigger breasts yet again, Katie had another set of implants, along with implants, Botox and lip fillers 2017 - After a disastrous 'threading' facelift, Katie also had her veneers replaced. She also had her eighth boob job taking her to a GG cup 2018 - Katie went under the knife yet again for a facelift 2019 - After jetting to Turkey, Katie had a face, eye and eyelid lift, Brazilian bum lift and a tummy tuck 2020 - Katie has her 12th boob job in Belgium to correct botched surgery and a new set of veneers 2021 - In a complete body overhaul, she opts for eye and lip lifts, liposuction under her chin, fat injected into her bum and full body liposuction 2022 - Katie undergoes another brow and eye lift-and undergoes 'biggest ever' boob job in Belgium, her 16th in total 2023 - Opting for a second rhinoplasty, Katie also gets a lip lift at the same time as well as new lip filler throughout the year 2024 - Katie has her 17th boob job in Brussels after revealing she wanted to downsize. She performed at Dublin Pride just days later and surgeons warned the lack of recovery posed a risk of infection
The Sun
9 hours ago
- The Sun
Brit woman, 39, vanishes at sea after hiring 15ft boat on paradise island Formentera as police launch major search
A MAJOR search is underway in Spain for a Brit woman who vanished after hiring a boat on the island of Formentera. The alarm was raised on Wednesday evening when she failed to return a motor boat she hired earlier that day. 2 Spanish coastguard officers used a search and rescue helicopter in the operation along with two coastguard vessels. One was mobilised from Ibiza, while the other combed the coastline off Formentera - the smallest of the inhabited Balearic Islands. Civil Guard officers are also understood to be conducting a land search. The search was expected to continue first thing this morning, but officials could not immediately be reached for comment. The missing Brit is reported to have hired a boat and left for "a quick boat ride" from Formentera port La Salina in on Wednesday afternoon. The rental firm is understood to have taken part in yesterday's search. is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video.
The Sun
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Katie Price almost bursts out of barely there strapless bikini as boozy holiday to Ibiza continues
KATIE Price pulled on a revealing pale pink bikini as she continued her boozy Ibiza getaway. The former glamour, 47, mode opted for a strapless bandeau top adorned with hot pink stitching which clung to her curves. 6 6 6 Katie hit a pool party in her sexy swimwear, accessorising with gold chain necklaces and pendants. She pulled her dark locks up in a high ponytail to show off the snatched results of her recent £10K facelift, while keeping her make-up natural. The mum of five posted her sunny snap, which saw her posing with a male pal, to her Instagram Stories, before he added the caption: "Love ya sis." It came just days after she opted for a red two-piece as she partied with MMA fighter Conor McGregor and Tottenham star Kevin Danson. She also flashed her bum in Barbie-print swimwear as she again hit Wayne Lineker 's iconic O Beach Club. In a snap shared on EastEnders star Dean Gaffney 's Instagram page, Katie could be seen partying with the former soap actor. Standing in between Dean and pal Jamie O'Hara, Katie posed and pouted as the two men beamed. She was then snapped alongside Wayne in a photo, with the pair looking friendly while she donned a bikini. FAN CONCERN Yet after showing off her plastered-up bum following recent surgery, as well as her slender frame, fans have questioned if the reality TV star is "OK." It came after another vacation image saw her posing in a pink halterneck bikini top and sunglasses. She showed off her tiny frame and surgically enhanced breasts - and fans rushed to comment, sharing concerns over former glamour model Katie 's weight loss. One wrote: 'Soo soo sad to see Katie like this.. I hope she goes and gets the help she needs.' Another said: 'Oh sweetheart, you seem so unwell. Wish you'd seek help.' And a third added: 'Why isn't someone providing support to Katie .. this is so sad to see.' Katie Price's Surgery: A Timeline 1998 - Katie underwent her first breast augmentation taking her from a natural B cup to a C cup. She also had her first liposuction 1999 - Katie had two more boob jobs in the same year, one taking her from a C cup to a D cup, and then up to an F cup 2006 - Katie went under the knife to take her breasts up to a G cup 2007 - Katie had a rhinoplasty and veneers on her teeth 2008 - Katie stunned fans by reducing her breasts from an F cup to a C cup 2011 - Going back to an F cup, Katie also underwent body-contouring treatment and cheek and lip fillers 2014/5 - Following a nasty infection, Katie had her breast implants removed 2016 - Opting for bigger breasts yet again, Katie had another set of implants, along with implants, Botox and lip fillers 2017 - After a disastrous 'threading' facelift, Katie also had her veneers replaced. She also had her eighth boob job taking her to a GG cup 2018 - Katie went under the knife yet again for a facelift 2019 - After jetting to Turkey, Katie had a face, eye and eyelid lift, Brazilian bum lift and a tummy tuck 2020 - Katie has her 12th boob job in Belgium to correct botched surgery and a new set of veneers 2021 - In a complete body overhaul, she opts for eye and lip lifts, liposuction under her chin, fat injected into her bum and full body liposuction 2022 - Katie undergoes another brow and eye lift-and undergoes 'biggest ever' boob job in Belgium, her 16th in total 2023 - Opting for a second rhinoplasty, Katie also gets a lip lift at the same time as well as new lip filler throughout the year 2024 - Katie has her 17th boob job in Brussels after revealing she wanted to downsize. She performed at Dublin Pride just days later and surgeons warned the lack of recovery posed a risk of infection Earlier this year, podcast anchor Katie was forced to shut down claims she was using Ozempic to lose weight. She later insisted: 'I'm healthy and I do eat.' 6 6
