Tourists have been left baffled in Majorca's resort town of Magaluf following its £5 million beach transformation project, which has reshaped its famous long beach and promenade. However, not all are pleased with the result. 

Magaluf's beach has been transformed with sand dunes and palm trees, with some claiming it has turned the area into Morocco or Miami. Calvia Council has insisted that the oases are an integral part of the major scheme, the first part of which is due to be inaugurated on June 22 after a year of intensive work. However, locals and tourists have said they are not convinced about the inclusion of the dunes and the 48 palm trees right on the beachfront.

Locals and tourists have complained that the collection of oases will diminish the view from many restaurants overlooking the sea and lessen the space on the already saturated beach. What's more, the oases will soon be washed away by the tides and storms.

"Palm tree oasis on the beach? That has never happened in Majorca," one person said on social media.

"If before in season that beach was full and there was nowhere to put everyone, now they have taken away one more trace of the beach. Who comes up with this great idea? Who accepted this project? " posted another.

Another under-impressed added: "I don't know that this is better. Now those who want to do evil can hide it behind the dunes. Before, when everything was flat, I had a view from one side to the other."

Others have likened it to Miami or Morocco, "with camels coming next"

However, the council, which looks after Magaluf, has defended the design, saying the sand dunes are very low and have been reduced from the original five dunes to just two.

The works received a €4 million subsidy from the Next Generation EU Funds of the Recovery, Transformation, and Resilience Plan in collaboration with the Ministry of Industry and Tourism and the Ministry of Tourism of the Government of the Balearic Islands through Sustainable Balearic Islands. An additional €1 million has been contributed from the ITS (Sustainable Tourism Tax) funds.

Locals have also reacted to the time it has taken to complete the project, which has caused considerable disruption to seafront bars and restaurants, with various closures and diversions. The transformation is also late, as the council had promised it would be ready for the start of the tourist season, not the end of June.

In a statement, the authority said: "The first phase of the remodelling of the Magaluf Promenade – Paseo Gabriel Escarrer Juliá – faces the final stretch of the works that will be formally inaugurated on June 22. The EU-funded project has been tailored to EU requirements by creating a natural environment with low-impact dunes, palm trees and drought-resistant flora, and a water collection and use system to reduce the use of drinking water.

"The dunes have been delimited with the planting of reeds and other species. The maximum height of the rooms does not exceed 80 cms, which avoids visual impact. Thus, from the promenade and the terraces of the first line establishments, the landscape and the view of the sea are not obstructed. 48 palm trees have been planted grouped in small oases.

"Along the promenade, a rainwater collection system has been installed that is processed in situ in small treatment plants. The water obtained is used to irrigate the dune vegetation."