Protests in Mallorca against excessive tourism

Thousands of locals took to the streets in the capital of the island of Mallorca to protest the negative impact of mass tourism on daily life, in a demonstration organized under the slogan "Less Tourism, More Life,” reports DPA. According to local police, around 8,000 people took part in the protest in Palma, displaying placards with suggestive messages such as: "Those who love Mallorca will not destroy it!” and calling on the authorities to take urgent measures to limit the flow of tourists.

• An island choked with visitors

Mallorca, the largest island in the Balearic archipelago, is facing a record influx of tourists: in 2024, the Balearic Islands were visited by around 19 million people, and for the current year the number is estimated to exceed 20 million, in a context in which the resident population amounts to around 1.2 million. Although tourism generates over 40% of the regional GDP, a growing number of locals claim that the economic benefits are distributed unfairly. "Ordinary residents live in low-paid jobs and suffer from a lack of housing, congestion, noise and pollution,” said Jaume Pujol, the initiative's spokesperson.

The protest organizers are demanding the adoption of concrete measures, including: Setting a ceiling on the number of annual tourists; A moratorium on cruise ships; The end of uncontrolled tourist rentals, considered responsible for the sharp increase in housing prices.

• Wave of discontent in other Spanish cities

Similar protests against mass tourism have also taken place in other cities in Spain, such as Barcelona, Valencia, Malaga. The movement reflects a growing dissatisfaction at a national level with the current tourism model, perceived by many as unsustainable and invasive.