Binibeca Vell, the most photographed village on the Balearic island of Menorca, has limited the hours tourists can access its streets and may close them completely.
The owners of the houses, most of which are second homes, have decided to put an end to the overpopulation of what is called “Menorcan Mykonos”.
In 2023, 800,000 tourists crossed the narrow, white streets of the small fishing village of Binibeca Vell. A private enclave, barely inhabited in winter And populated by around 500 people in summer.
The owners became fed up with the inconvenience caused by tourists and fixed a closing time for visits: from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The number of buses arriving simultaneously at the village has already been reduced by half. Businesses and restaurants must face the decision of neighbors. Some understand it, others fear that it will lead to financial losses.
Among visitors, there is mostly understanding for the decision, but also a feeling of having fewer options to go to one of those places that look great in their Instagram photos.
In August 2024, village owners will decide whether the access restriction was sufficient or if they definitively prohibit any visit to the village.
Overtourism, an increasingly widespread phenomenon
When we talk about the problem of overtourismwe think above all of Barcelona and toothers localities, especially coastal or islanders, in Spain, or in Venice. The “Sérénissime” recently reduces the size of tourist groups and established a daily tax for visitors, even if this last measure is far from being unanimous among the local population.
But for some time measures against mass tourism have been taken elsewhere in Italyin Japan or even in Norway.