Hundreds of anti-tourism protesters form ‘SOS Menorca’ sign on idyllic beach ‘overrun’ by holidaymakers – after 20,000 took to the streets in Majorca

Hundreds of protesters have blocked tourist access to a picturesque beach in Menorca in a “surprise action”, almost a week after a large demonstration on the neighbouring island of Mallorca.

Activists boasted of filling a car park at Cala Turqueta, a beautiful bay on the island’s southern coast, with “residents’ cars”.

They then used towels and their own bodies to form the message ‘SOS Menorca’ on the sand at the waterline.

The unannounced protest by the non-profit environmental organisation GOB Menorca left the car park ‘blocked’ to holidaymakers for around six hours yesterday morning, according to local reports.

The protesters are also said to have packed the first bus to Cala Turqueta to ‘hinder the arrival of tourists.’

Activists boasted of filling a parking lot at Cala Turqueta, a beautiful bay on the island’s south coast, with cars belonging to ‘residents’

Pictured: Cala Turqueta, which is usually full of tourists lying on the beach and swimming

GOB Menorca stressed last night: ‘This was not a protest against tourism, but against the massive growth and degradation that it brings.’

But it admitted that activists had carried out a well-thought-out plan that would ultimately have consequences for holidaymakers: ‘250 people gathered in Cala Turqueta to demand a change of course for Menorca.

‘They filled the parking lot with residents’ cars and made messages on the sand with their towels and other items.

‘The captured images show the concern of the Menorcan population about the massive increase in population on the island.’

According to a spokesperson, their actions affirm the right to decent housing, the protection of the island’s natural resources, a diversified economy and the return of young people from abroad.

Yesterday’s protest was the first in the Balearic Islands since the demonstration against mass tourism in the Mallorcan capital Palma last Sunday.

According to police, more than 20,000 people took part, but organizers estimate the number at 50,000.

Some protesters used Spain’s victory at the European Championship to ridicule English tourists, while others called British holidaymakers “drunkards”.

Yesterday’s protest (pictured) was the first in the Balearic Islands since last Sunday’s anti-mass tourism demonstration in Mallorca’s capital, Palma.

Among the banners they carried as they took to the streets of the island’s capital was a play on words featuring a photo of Kyle Walker: “The only thing coming home is you,” with the 2-1 scoreline between the flags of England and Spain underneath.

Another protester carried a similar banner targeting the Germans, who also lost by the same score in the quarter-finals of the European Championship after Spain had won narrowly.

The message on it was in German: ‘Out of the final. Get out of here.’

Another banner carried by the protesters read in English, despite calls by regional government spokesman Antoni Costa for locals to show “respect” to foreign visitors ahead of the march: “Take back your drunks, give back our homes.”

Other messages in English carried on cardboard posters by some read: ‘We used to have a life. SOS Residents.’ and ‘Enjoy balconing’, referring to the dangerous practice of jumping from hotel balconies into swimming pools or climbing between terraces that party-going Britons in places like Magaluf have been associated with for years.

Hotel managers in Mallorca later claimed that some holidaymakers had been insulted and doused with water, a repeat of incidents that occurred in Barcelona earlier this month during a protest against the mass tourist flow, in which visitors were sprayed with water pistols.

Yesterday’s protest in Menorca was the first on the island since June 8. About 1,000 people gathered in a central square in the capital, Mahon.

Yesterday’s protest in Menorca (pictured) was the first on the island since June 8. About 1,000 people gathered in a central square in the capital, Mahon.

A number of locals who took part in the demonstration in the square in front of the Island Council headquarters showed up with sun loungers, towels and umbrellas, creating a beach for the day on the concrete.

The main organizer of that protest was also GOB Menorca, the island branch of GOB in Palma, which played a prominent role in last Sunday’s demonstration in Mallorca.

The action came after tourists in Ibiza were warned to prepare for a summer full of “surprise actions” by protesters.

A “welcome party” is expected to be held on July 24 for the cruise ships that arrive.

In a separate development, residents of a Menorcan village known as the ‘Spanish Mykonos’ earlier this year closed off 22 entrances to prevent holidaymakers from visiting at night.

Visitors can only enter the streets of Binibeca Vell on the south coast of Menorca, between 11am and 8pm.

Every year, some 800,000 people come to the village, which is actually a private community, to take photos of the iconic holiday destination and post them on social media.

Residents say they took the measure to protest their rest periods, and next month they must decide whether to keep the same access times for the busiest parts of the season or tighten the restrictions even further.