Tourists jetting off to Portugal this month are bracing themselves for major disruption, as ongoing strikes at some of the biggest airports in the country look set to last until the end of August.
Industrial action that began in late July will see further cancellations and delays for passengers flying into Lisbon, Porto, Faro, Madeira, Porto Santo and Azores airports, after ground staff announced they’re striking over pay.
It’s thought up to 10,000 UK passengers could have their summer holiday travels affected with employees working in baggage handling, aircraft servicing and on check-in desks planning to down tools every weekend until the month’s end.
The walk-out by SPdH/Menzies ground staff is likely to impact major British airports too – including London, Manchester, Birmingham and Edinburgh – with up to 60 flights a week potentially affected.
UK-based airlines, including Ryanair, BA and easyJet have reduced capacity accordingly on the strike dates, which started on the last weekend in July.
The FCO’s current travel advice for Portugal warns of the strikes, saying: ‘Industrial action by baggage handles at Portuguese airports from Friday to Monday during the months of July and August may cause delays.’
‘If you are travelling over this period, check for announcements and follow the advice of your airline or tour operator.’
Alongside mainland airports, the popular holiday islands of Madeira and the Azores are also affected.
Disruption: An ongoing walk-out by SPdH/Menzies ground staff in Portugal means up to 10,000 UK travellers could be affected before the end of August
It’s already been a tumultuous year for tourism, with protests against over-tourism taking place in destinations across Southern Europe – including in Portugal – all year.
Marches have erupted across the Balearics, the Canaries and mainland Spain, with tens of thousands marching through Palma in July, holding banners that read ‘Your luxury, our misery’ and demanding curbs on tourist numbers, cruise ships and short-term lets.
This week, it was revealed that Mallorca’s beach businesses are warning of a brutal summer season, with earnings plummeting as the backlash against mass tourism intensifies both in Spain and abroad.
According to the Association of Temporary Services Concessions and Operations in the Maritime-Terrestrial Public Domain of Mallorca (Adopuma), beach bars, parasol hire companies, and water activity operators have taken a hit of around 20 per cent in July compared to last summer, and things aren’t looking any better as August rolls on.
In a gloomy statement, the group blamed poor spring weather, spiralling costs, and falling demand for beach services.
But they say that increasingly aggressive rhetoric from anti-tourism campaigners is pushing the island’s economy to the brink. Adopuma president Onofre Fornés said ‘irresponsible negative messages against tourism’ for the downturn.
Beach tourists, the bread and butter of Mallorca’s daytime economy, are no longer spending like they used to, he added.
He said: ‘Reduced income, higher operating costs and subdued demand for key services, such as sun loungers and deckchairs, have affected turnover, for example in areas such as Playa de Muro and Can Picafort.’
Travellers heading to Portuguese destinations including Madeira, pictured, are also facing disruption
Earlier this year, protesters across Spain yelled at tourists to ‘go back home’ and campaigned against tourism. Now, bars, beaches, and restaurants say they have taken a huge hit
Many have been priced out of extras like parasols and cocktails after shelling out more than ever on flights and hotels.
According to the association, restaurants are underperforming, beach bar takings are down, and occupancy rates have stayed low even into early August.
Staff wages and the cost of goods have both gone up, chewing into profits and leaving many businesses worried about survival, the group warned.
Operators in resorts like Cala Millor say tourists are holding off on spending until the very last day of their holidays, a far cry from the more carefree attitude seen in pre-inflation years.
Germans in particular, one of Mallorca’s biggest markets, have become noticeably more cautious.
Adopuma is now urging the government to act fast, capping prices, stamping out anti-tourism sentiment, and ensuring that Mallorca remains affordable for the mid-budget visitors who keep the island ticking.
Local businesses were targeted with stickers, while demonstrators blocked roads and disrupted holidaymakers’ plans.
Protesters in Barcelona used water pistols to spray unsuspecting tourists in the city centre. Others slapped ‘Tourist go home’ stickers on restaurants and hotel doors.
In one of the city’s most symbolic demonstrations yet, activists blocked access to hotels and confronted diners in popular neighbourhoods.
In Palma, tensions boiled over when a British tourists were surrounded at a restaurant by angry protesters shouting ‘go home’ and ‘go to hell’.
One protester was seen brandishing an axe, and police had to intervene as the group surged towards diners.
The violent scenes were widely condemned by politicians, but activists say they are the result of years of frustration over overcrowded streets, surging rents, and wages that haven’t kept pace with the cost of living.
