Protest in the vacation paradise - Measures against mass tourism on Mallorca announced
After the latest protest against mass tourism on Mallorca, the Regional Government of the Balearic Islands promised unhappy citizens "bold measures". These will be taken "within a few months", assured Vice President Antoni Costa before journalists in Palma. "We understand the concerns of society", Costa stated. One must "set limits", as the growth model is "unsustainable".
The Hoteliers Association FEHM also expressed understanding for the demands of the protesters. "We are focusing more on quality than quantity", said the Vice President of the Organization, María José Aguilo. She criticized, however, the aggressive behavior of some demonstration participants, who had sprayed water at tourists. She also denounced graffiti on hotels and other tourist facilities.
The police estimated the number of demonstration participants on Sunday evening at 20,000. The organizers spoke of 50,000, which was considered too high by on-site observers. People held signs with inscriptions like "Your luxury, our misery" or "We don't want to be the pioneers of rising living costs". On a sign, low-cost airlines were criticized. According to media reports, some tourists in Palma even clapped along. Others found the demonstration rather unpleasant, it was reported.
This is not the first demonstration of this kind in Spain.
Invited to the demonstration was a group called "Less Tourism, more Life". Eight weeks ago, up to 25,000 people had demonstrated in Palma under the slogans "Say no!" and "Mallorca is not for sale!". Unrest is also stirring in other Spanish tourist metropolises like Barcelona and on the Canary Islands.
On the Balearic Islands, whose main island is Mallorca, there are nearly 1.2 million residents. In the past year, they were visited by 18 million tourists, of whom 4.6 million were from Germany and 3.4 million from the United Kingdom. On average, there was one tourist for every local resident.
Tourism is vital for Mallorca. The industry accounts for 45% of the island's economic output. However, demonstrators complain that only a minority benefits, while the large majority in the sector receives low wages that do not cover the increasingly expensive housing. Traffic jams, noise, and dirt also irritate the residents.
- The Regional Government of the Balearic Islands, following the protests against mass tourism in Mallorca, announced they will implement significant changes within a few months.
- Maria Jose Aguilo, Vice President of the Hoteliers Association FEHM, agreed with the protesters' demands but condemned the aggressive behavior and vandalism during the demonstration in Palma.
- Less Tourism, more Life, a group advocating for sustainable tourism, was invited to the recent protest in Palma, echoing similar unrest in other Spanish tourist destinations such as Barcelona and the Canary Islands.
- The Balearic Islands, with Mallorca as its main island, welcomed nearly 18 million tourists last year, with over 4.6 million coming from Germany and 3.4 million from the United Kingdom.
- Despite the economic importance of tourism to Mallorca, which contributes to 45% of the island's GDP, demonstrators argue that only a small fraction of the industry's benefits reach the majority of workers, who earn low wages and struggle with high housing costs, contributing to issues such as traffic congestion, noise pollution, and pollution.
