The Spanish holiday island of Majorca are bringing in a ban, or rather fining people for wearing only their bathing costumes away from the immediate beach or poolside vicinity.

The regulation is being introduced this month following continued complaints from bars, shops and restaurants of having to serve "under-dressed" holiday-makers, which will apply to both tourists and locals.

Fines in Majorca

These gents would be fined in Majorca

The fines of up to 500 euros will apply to anyone who is "devoid of superior parts of clothing" away from the immediate beach area - meaning ladies no more walking around in your bikini and gentlemen you will need a t-shirt to accompany those trunks! But they are not alone - a similar ban was introduced in Barcelona back in 2011 and certain resorts in Southern Italy also have similar regulations.

"Cover up" is the message

This rule change is an attempt by the Majorcan authorities to make the island more "upmarket" - I wonder whether it will work or turn people off going? And how will they police it.... will they have a special police patrol dedicated to looking for inappropriately dressed individuals walking the streets. Goodness, where would they start in Benidorm! Up to a point I do think it´s a good idea - I often see holiday makers walking back to their hotels or apartments some distance away from the beach, dripping in a mixture of suntan oil and sweat in little more than a cheese-wire or ample beer gut hanging over their trunks. From a hygiene point of view I totally agree and sympathize with businesses. I mean, would you walk about the streets of say Blackpool or Brighton like that - just because it´s a holiday resort.

Mind you, walk about Calle Gerona at night and some of the girls appear to be wearing little more than a bikini to go out clubbing!
I am sure that they also have clubs in Majorca so will they be bringing in regulations of what is deemed appropriate clubwear too?
Just take a look at what some of the stag and hen groups walk about in when in Benidorm - or maybe not!

History of Benidorm

Benidorm once upon a time

It was only just over 60 years ago that bikini´s were allowed on the beaches in Benidorm - which isn´t actually that long ago at all. It was in the early 1950´s that the then Mayor, Pedro Zaragoza revolutionized this former fishing village by famously jumping on his Vespa and riding 300 miles to Madrid to get Franco´s permission for female tourists to wear their revealing bathing costumes on his beaches. The Archbishops were outraged, but Franco agreed and a legend was born as Benidorm became the first seaside town in Spain to allow bikini´s!

Up until the 1950´s the predominant industry in Benidorm was fishing but in 1952 one of the biggest tuna fisheries was closed down in the region. Up until 1959 there were only 4 hotels in the town, yet unbelievably it was recorded that in 1957 30,000 tourists flew from the UK to Valencia on British European Airways - then the nearest airport and chose Benidorm as the final destination. El Altet Alicante airport came into being in 1967 - bringing Europe closer to Benidorm and tourists flocked here with the arrival of cheap package holidays.

Madrileños, the term referred to for residents of Madrid treat Benidorm as their local beach and flock here for the weekend. The opening of the AP7 motorway in 1975 made it a comfortable journey of under 5 hours and nowadays, they tend to dominate the resort throughout August.

Drink 5 times more

With these prices hardly a surprise!

According to a recent survey carried out by www.sunshine.co.uk, an online travel agent, Brits spend an average of 5 times more in a week than they do back home and over a third are already grabbing a beer or cocktail with 60 minutes of arrival to their holiday destination.
But a word of caution, if you have an accident while intoxicated your travel insurance will not be valid!