British tourists dining out in Mallorca could now be asked to collect their food at the counter – as restaurants face a shortage of waiters who have been priced out by the island’s soaring living costs.
President of the Balearics’ Restaurant Business Federation Alfonso Robledo said that tourism hot spots are no longer attractive to waiters and blamed holidaymakers for hiking up living costs for hospitality staff across the island.
Foreign investors, many of whom have turned family homes in tourist rental accommodation, have been blamed for the spike in property prices by local campaigners who have become increasingly vocal about the impacts of mass tourism.
Mr. Robledo noted that big changes are afoot with some restaurants already asking customers to come up to collect their meals from the serving counter, while others aren’t bringing bills to tables any more, requiring clients to queue at the tills to pay instead.
Meanwhile, Mallorca locals who have blamed waiter shortages on the high cost of living and low salaries, have said wages should be increased.
One suggested: ‘Hotels should be obliged by law to offer accommodation to staff, as is the case in the rest of Europe. And if they don’t have space, they should reduce customer rooms and allocate them for their employees.
‘A part of the payroll is deducted as rent. Only then will the problem end.’
Restaurants in the Balearic Islands are facing a shortage of waiters who have been priced out by the island’s soaring living costs
Tourists have been blamed for soaring livings costs for hospitality staff on the islands
As a result, some restaurants are making diners collect their food from their counter and pay for their bill at a till
Restaurant owners, however, have said that they don’t make enough money to do this.
Dining spots unable to find Spanish waiters on the island are trying to recruit from the mainland instead, particularly Andalusia – while eateries are becoming increasingly staffed by other Europeans.
Mr. Robledo added that the government has to tackle the problem by looking at the cost of housing and more security over contracts.
