Majorca is to launch a new “surveillance” plan for British tourists which could see their phones checked in a bid to stop its beaches from becoming overcrowded.

In an effort to manage the surge of visitors during the peak spring and summer seasons, Majorcan authorities are planning to track mobile phone data to gauge the number of people flocking to hotspots like the Deya viewpoint and various beaches, ensuring the island can “better manage tourist success”.

The ruling People’s Party has backed the tech-driven approach to find out where the hotspots are for Brits.

A spokesman for the party said: “We need objective data, not just perceptions, and new technologies make it possible to obtain this. We want to know where the hotspots are, so that tourist experiences are optimal and, above all, that the coexistence of residents is not affected as happens now at specific times and places.

“We will be able to make mobility decisions, redirect tourist flows and identify infrastructure deficiencies.”