Salou forces promoter to remove reference to “orgies” in springbreak ad

Aside from a few fines for urinating in public and minor altercations, this year’s Saloufest Easter festivities passed off largely without incident, unlike in previous years when dozens of the up to 10,000 British students who descend on the Costa Dourada resort every year have injured themselves jumping off hotel balconies or have laid drunken siege to the town’s sports installations.

Now Salou’s residents are preparing themselves for the arrival of up to 2,000 French university students, attracted by the sex, booze and partying promised by the organizers of Karibean Springbreak 2016. “You’re young, you’re not aged 50 with a kid under each arm,” says the website advertising the event

Salou’s residents are preparing themselves for the arrival of up to 2,000 French university students, attracted by the sex, booze and partying promised by organizers

But organizers have been obliged by the town’s council to remove the explicit references they made on their webpage to “orgies” during the festivities.

Salou’s town council is unhappy that once again the area is being associated with alcohol and out-of-control partying, but hotel owners say the spring breaks bring much-needed revenue outside the peak season. Last year the council decided to remove its support for the vacations packages after five years, calling on hotels to “cease damaging the good tourism image of the municipality and to stop using the Salou brand.”

“There are no taboos during Karibean Springbreak,” say the organizers, suggesting young men wear bibs to deal with the effects of so much naked flesh. “Bikinis as far as the eye can see,” reads the website.

In 2013 a drunken student suffered severe injuries after he tried to climb up to his room after losing his key, while in previous years, young women have complained of sexual harassment during the spring break activities.

English version by Nick Lyne.