Mallorca cave guides reject overcrowding blame
Cave guides in the Balearic Islands say they should not be blamed for overcrowding underground. The Balearic Mountain Guides Association said in Palma on Monday that its members follow the rules and make protecting caves part of their work.
The association said licensed guides were being painted with an “unfair and generalised” brush. It argued that regulated professional trips must be separated from private leisure visits and any poor practice by individual people or operators.
Caps and protection
Its members comply with visitor caps set by the Balearic Government, the association said. Those restrictions reflect the permits guides have been granted, while safeguarding the cave environment is an essential part of their job.
The group said a debate over how much pressure caves can take, and what protection they need, was legitimate. But it wants objective rules to organise different uses, set suitable visitor numbers and identify the most sensitive areas.
Call to target unlicensed operators
The association also urged authorities to act more firmly against operators working without the required professional, administrative or safety standards.
A professional guide does more than lead people through a cave, it said. Guides explain how fragile the site is, set behaviour rules, keep watch over the group and step in when someone acts inappropriately. The role has become more important as social media has made some natural places far more popular, often among people who do not understand how vulnerable they are.
The association said the whole profession should not carry the blame for possible misconduct by individuals. It said its members were among those most keen to see the caves kept in the best possible condition.
Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com