Majorca ‘panic’ as labour shortage sparks huge decision affecting tourists

Business owners are facing mounting pressure in Majorca as staff shortages appear to be worsening, meaning some restaurants and bars have had to reduce opening hours.

Juanmi Ferrer, the president of the CAEB Restaurants Association, said staff shortages that were evident in 2022 and 2023 have got worse this year.

In response to the labour issues, some restaurants have been forced to close at certain times of the day, impacting not just locals but also the many holidaymakers visiting the Balearic island.

Ferrer, who took up the position last week, also said that since June, there has been lower spending with a 30 percent fall in turnover.

He said: “If they have had a good season, they may well open in winter. But if they haven’t, they will think twice.”

The CAEB Restaurants Association president also said: “Whoever can open will open. Restaurants which are better organised and have a network of local clients will hold out.”

Ferrer believes that restaurants in tourist areas want to stay open after the end of the season, “whenever the situation allows it”. However, very few ever do.

It’s not just the hospitality business, but also the retail sector being impacted.

Carolina Domingo of the Pimeco association said: “Shops that have a bad season will simply not open. We are back to where we were years ago, with many parts of the island almost without activity in the winter months.”

It comes after overtourism protests erupted in major Spanish cities over the summer. One of the local’s key concerns has been the lack of affordable housing for local people.

Earlier this month, it was reported that local workers were deserting the island due to ever-increasing rent and property prices. Instead, investors have been buying up apartments in order to rent them out to holidaymakers in the short term.