Protests in the holiday paradise - Demonstration against mass tourism on Mallorca
On the popular holiday island of Mallorca among Germans, Brits and other North Europeans, several thousand locals have again demonstrated against the excesses of mass tourism. At the beginning of the procession in the island capital Palma, according to on-site observers, fewer people participated than at the large demo eight weeks ago in Palma.
A flyer advertising the large demonstration against mass tourism on Mallorca features holiday planes, private jets, cruise ships, and luxury yachts encircling the small island like a swarm of flies. "Change the course" (Canviem el rumb) is written above the photo montage. It's about "Setting limits on tourism," it says in smaller print on the flyer.
People held signs with slogans like "Your luxury, our misery" or "We don't want to be the pioneers of rising housing costs." The demonstrators then set off from the Ses Estaciones Park and made their way through the old town of Palma. The organization "Less Tourism, More Life" called for the rally.
According to the organizers, up to 25,000 locals had taken to the streets eight weeks ago in Palma under the slogans "Say no!" and "Mallorca is not for sale!" Unrest is also brewing in other Spanish tourist metropolises like Barcelona and Málaga, as well as on the Canary Islands.
For Mallorca, tourism is essential. The industry accounts for 45% of the island's economic output. And the tourism industry warns against cutting off the branch that many are sitting on. But the demonstrators complain that only a minority profits, while the large majority gets jobs in the tourism industry with low wages that don't cover the increasingly expensive housing. Traffic jams, noise, and dirt are also irritating the islanders.
- Despite the demonstration against mass tourism in Palma, Mallorca continues to be a popular vacation paradise for international tourists, attracting Germans, Brits, and other North Europeans.
- The Balearic Islands, including Mallorca, have become known as a mass tourism destination, leading to concerns about rising housing costs and the impact on local society.
- The International community of vacationers visiting Mallorca's vacation island of Palma might be surprised to learn about the local protests against the excesses of mass tourism.
- The "Less Tourism, More Life" organization has been at the forefront of the demonstrations against mass tourism on Mallorca, advocating for setting limits on tourism to preserve the island's natural and cultural heritage.
- The disagreement between local society and the tourism industry on Mallorca raises questions about the balance between sustainable tourism development and the economic benefits it brings to the island.
