Protests by Mallorcan Spaniards due to excessive tourism influx
Street protests echo across Mallorca against the overwhelming rush of tourists. What locals crave and why they're up in arms.
Dialog Box
Narration The vibrant heart of Mallorca is teeming with discontent. Thousands of indignant residents stormed the streets of Palma yesterday, challenges etched on their faces, their voices resonating with a single demand - a change. Organized by the initiative "Menys turisme, més vida" ("Less tourism, more life"), the protest gathered droves of retirees, families, and concerned citizens.
Jaume Pujol, Spokeperson "We're demanding a cap on the visitor numbers, a ban on cruise ships, and an end to tourist rentals," declares Jaume Pujol, the initiative's spokesperson to the regional newspaper "Diario de Mallorca".
A Growing Tourism Monster
One year has passed since the colossal protest in July 2024, but they've found themselves ignored by the regional government. Despite the passage of time, the tide of tourists continues to surge, with that dreaded 20 million visitor mark within reach in 2025. Last year, an astounding 19 million visitors descended upon the island, a one million or five percent increase compared to 2023.
Clashing Perspectives
With a population of fewer than one million inhabitants, a staggering 13.5 million tourists flocked to Mallorca last year that's 13.5 tourists per local resident. The number of German visitors to the Balearics surged by nine percent in 2024, setting a new record at approximately five million. Mallorca, with its idyllic shores and irresistible charm, remains a popular travel destination, particularly during the summer months.
Economic Overview In the summer months of June, July, and August 2024, nearly 5.9 million passengers flew from German airports abroad. Spain, Turkey, and Greece were the most frequent destinations, with around 1.3 million and 1.25 million passengers for Spain and Turkey, respectively. Greece came in third place with just over half a million passengers.
The tourism industry is resplendent with these high numbers, but among locals, the discontent simmers. Their homes, their lives, and their wallets are all feeling the strain. The rising prices of housing and rentals, driven by tourism, weigh heavily on the shoulders of residents.
Echoes of Protests Across Spain
Mallorca wasn't alone in its cry for help. Protests against mass tourism also coursed through the veins of Barcelona and other Spanish cities yesterday. Although the number of participants was significantly lower, around 600 people, their grievances were loud and clear. In the heart of Catalonia, they marched with water pistols, defiant and determined.
Cleaning for a Pennies
Amidst the clamor for change, our Spain correspondent, Julia Macher, reports on the struggles of cleaning staff. A cleaner complains about having to clean a room for a measly Euro. "The situation is dire," she says. Barcelona is mulling over a plan to completely ban rentals on platforms like Airbnb by the end of 2028. However, the protesters argue that this isn't enough, demanding nothing short of a reconstructed economic system and accusing the administration of insincerity.
Barcelona's Airport Expansion Controversy
Last week, plans for the expansion of Barcelona's airport were unveiled, sparking widespread outrage. "They are ruining our city," says Ariadna Coten, one of the organizers of the demonstration. The airport's expansion is a glaring contradiction of the cry for a reduction in tourism, and the protesters refuse to stand for it.
Sources:
- News agency dpa
- Spain correspondent Julia Macher
Comment Box
Comments
- Comment 1: Britta writes on today, 15:05: The mass tourism will take revenge... Not only in Mallorca! Money rules the world, and reason is switched off! It's already sad how... The mass tourism will take revenge... Not only in Mallorca! Money rules the world, and reason is switched off! It's already sad how the human and the environment are always put behind.*
Respond
In the face of increasing mass tourism, a call for sustainable living echoes through Germany, as five million German tourists visited Mallorca last year, marking a nine percent increase. Meanwhile, locals struggle with the rising prices of homes and rentals due to the tourism boom, and the sustainable lifestyle movement gains traction, advocating for a more balanced approach to tourism and home-and-garden solutions that promote sustainability.
