Vox Deputy Campos: 'Tourist density in Mallorca is a fabrication'

Jorge Campos, deputy for Spain's Balearic Islands and a leading figure in the Vox Party, claimed that the alleged tourist density on the islands is in fact a 'fabrication'. Campos made this statement during the peak tourist season via a video he recorded at the famous Alcúdia beach, located in the north of Mallorca. In the video he recorded, he revealed that the beach was quite deserted and there were many empty spaces on the sandy area. These images aim to directly refute the overcrowding narrative championed by the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE), Més separatists, and Podemos. The deputy invited the public to adopt a critical perspective on this issue and to be cautious against manipulation.

Featuring the footage in the video, Campos posed a rhetorical question to the viewers: 'Where is the density?' Stating that he felt targeted by a disinformation campaign, Campos argued that the overcrowded photos taken in small and narrow coves do not reflect the truth. He claimed that such images were specifically selected and exaggerated to deter tourists. Furthermore, wanting to show the bright side of the islands to all tourists and visitors, Campos explicitly invited everyone to visit Mallorca. He emphasized that visitors will always be welcomed and feel safe on the island.

Campos, the former Vox leader of the Balearic Islands, specifically emphasized the importance of the tourism sector, the region's biggest economic locomotive, in his statement. He strongly condemned political maneuvers targeting this sector, which directly affects the welfare of the local population. He stated that it is an unacceptable attitude for some political forces to play with the livelihoods of Mallorcan, Menorcan, Ibiza, and Formentera citizens. Campos expressed that these politicians lend too much credence to the rhetoric of customary merchants of manipulation. He added that tourism is a blessing for the islands and that constantly targeting this sector will cause great harm to the regional economy.

In the final part of his remarks, Campos reacted harshly against non-governmental organizations and activists who use the slogan 'tourism kill Mallorca', which has become popular recently and means 'Tourism is killing Mallorca'. Arguing that these groups' anti-tourism narratives are unfounded and unfair, he claimed that the real source of the so-called density allegations is different. According to Campos, the real density and demographic pressure problem experienced on the islands stems from illegal immigrant movements. He claimed that illegal immigration consumes the islands' local resources and infrastructures much more heavily than tourism. In this context, he argued that blaming tourism is a strategy used to cover up the real problems.

Overall, this incident once again reveals how deep the political polarization is in Spain, particularly in regions under tourism pressure such as the Balearic Islands. This harsh stance by the Vox party, which defends tourism and prioritizes the regional economy, continues to draw reactions from anti-tourism movements. The delicate balance between the benefits of tourism and the quality of life of the local population remains one of the most debated current issues on the islands. Jorge Campos's video statement clearly demonstrates the extent of the country's political divisions regarding tourism policies and immigration. It seems inevitable that these debates will continue to occupy Spain's regional and national agenda in the upcoming political periods.