Party out at Ballermann: "The Germans just live in another world"

The wild parties of hundreds of tourists without a protective mask and safety clearance have a drastic aftermath in Mallorca: for the first time, all entertainment venues in the heart of the "Ballermann" at Playa de Palma, which is particularly popular with German tourists, are forcibly closed on the Spanish island in the middle of summer.

The notorious "Beer" and "Ham Street" are now being drained for two summer months. The Puerto Ballena sin mile in the British stronghold of Magaluf west of Palma was also affected by the forced closings, the regional government said on Wednesday.

The outrage is great

Germans and British had caused "chaos" at the weekend, as the island newspaper "Última Hora" called. Drunk men and women without mouth-to-nose masks, among other things, had hugged, flirted, roared in the crowds of African street vendors – and, as numerous videos showed, did not in the least care about the corona rules.

The outrage was great. Not only in Mallorca and Spain, but also in Germany. Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU) said of the wild goings-on in Mallorca: "We have to be very careful not to make Ballermann a second Ischgl."

200,000 jobs are at stake

The Balearic Minister of Tourism Iago Negueruela now had a clear message ready when the measures were announced: "We don't want these anti-social tourists here. They shouldn't come," said the socialist politician. One should not allow "that a few harm the image of the islands" and jeopardize the success of the Balearic Islands in fighting the pandemic.

Negueruela warned that there would be no hesitation in extending the measures to other areas of the island if necessary. "Health comes first. And there is no economy without health." 200,000 jobs would be at stake. Depending on the development, an extension and a shortening of the forced closings is conceivable.

Protesters take to the streets

Not only the guests were criticized, but also local owners who did not ensure order. Minister of Administration Isabel Castro reminded that since Friday a catalog of fines has been in force, according to which violations of the corona rules at parties, especially local owners, but also organizers of celebrations, even in private apartments, can be punished with fines of up to 600,000 euros.

Before the press conference, which among other things also announced a ban on the long straws that are traditionally used on "Malle" for drinking together, around 500 operators of night clubs and discos in Palma had taken to the streets in protest. These establishments have a capacity of more than 300 guests, they are not yet allowed to open on all four islands because of Corona. The cult restaurants "Megapark" and "Bierkönig" are also affected. The demonstrators carried posters such as "We'd die without tourism" and demanded that their businesses be reopened.

"The Germans just live in another world"

But they are a minority in Mallorca. The new measures have not yet triggered any controversy. The 40,000 residents of the S'Arenal, where the Ballermann is, are very afraid of the corona virus. "Of course I'm jittery. The Germans just live in another world," said a Playa resident of the German Press Agency.

The deputy president of the Hotelierverband Mallorca (FEHM), María José Aguiló, "strongly condemned" the illegal parties. "This anti-social and irresponsible behavior endangers the health of all people." Hoteliers know the economic consequences of the long corona lockdown in Spain only too well – and under no circumstances want it to happen again.

And of course they did not ignore the critical reactions from Germany. The top medical officer Frank Ulrich Montgomery spoke on NDR Info about the possibility of a forced quarantine for Mallorca tourists. That would be like a death knell for an industry that generates huge sales in the Balearic Islands.