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ARCHIVED - Balearic Islands fear dangerous balconing fad is on the rebound
A study shows that UK tourists are the most likely to try balconing in Spain
With the summer season not even begun, the popular tourist destination of the Balearic Islands has already suffered two tragedies, both of which occurred on the same day: on Thursday May 12, a British tourist plunged to his death from a seventh-floor balcony in Magaluf and a few hours later, a Dutch former football player met a tragic end after performing a treacherous cliff dive.
These tragic events have overshadowed the rebound in tourism set to flood the Spanish isles over the coming months, and the Balearic Islands government in particular is fearful that the lethal ‘balconing’ fad is making a comeback.
Balconing involves leaping from a height into the hotel pool below, or even climbing over the apartment balcony into the room next door. Awareness campaigns have been running for years, both in Spain and the UK, and one expert believes that British tourists are the most prone to balconing.
Shocked by the volume of grievously injured Brits turning up in his emergency room, surgeon Juan José Segura Sampedro from the Son Espases hospital in Palma began investigating the causes, and his research led to three main conclusions among UK holidaymakers: balconing is a fad that most attracts men (97%), the young (an average of 24 years old) and people who are drunk at the time.
“It is an alcohol-induced madness,” the expert summarised, who was later decorated by the Queen of England as a Member of the Order of the British Empire for his study and contribution to the prevention of this phenomenon.
To cut down on so-called drunken tourism, the Balearic Islands government is introducing a number of measures this summer to reduce alcohol consumption, heavily penalising disorderly or dangerous behaviour.
Quite aside from the deadly repercussions on holidaymakers themselves, such terrible accidents give the Spanish islands a reputation of being unsafe.
British Ambassador to Spain, Hugh Elliott, said, “We know how excited young people will be about what may be their first holiday abroad for at least two years; possibly the first on their own. The Balearics is an amazing holiday destination, but we want to make sure all Brits know the local rules and how to stay safe on a night out.
“We are working closely with the Balearic Government whose new measures include limiting excessive alcohol consumption and anti-social behaviour. We all have a responsibility to know the rules, stick to them and ensure a great holiday for ourselves, and those around us.
“The best way to do that is to make sure that you look after your mates, stick together and enjoy your holidays safely and responsibly.”
Image: Archive
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