'We're on holiday in Mallorca – this is how it feels as a tourist after the protests'

Holidaymakers in Mallorca have been sharing their experiences around the anti-tourism sentiment and protests across Spain.

Graffiti messages like "tourists go home" have become commonplace in both mainland Spain and the Balearic Islands as of late. The uproar is primarily due to locals' frustration over rising rents, which has been linked to properties being bought up for the tourism industry.

A British expat living in Mallorca recently took to TikTok to address the issue, claiming that the locals do not actually "hate" tourists. Ottilie Quince, who runs a bike shop there, has now posted a series of videos interviewing tourists about how safe they feel.

In one video, an Australian visitor told Ottilie she felt completely safe in Mallorca, calling it "the best place ever". When asked what she would say to those hesitant to visit because of the protests, she said: "Tell them to come because it's just worth it. It's such a great spot. And here in Port de Pollenca, you wouldn't even know there's protests. It's really lovely."

Another video featured a British couple praising the friendliness of the locals. The woman said: "We've just met the most charming people so far, in the restaurants and the bars. I suppose we had heard the news stories but look, come from Northern Ireland and realise that news stories can be extremely localised, and don't necessarily bear any relation to what people are going to see on the ground." The couple described the local atmosphere as "relaxed and welcome", with absolutely "no hint of any malice".

In a third video, Ottilie had a conversation with an Irish man sipping a drink at a bar. Upon being questioned about his sense of security, he affirmed: "100% yes, safe as houses." His message to