- Opponents of mass tourism want to "occupy" Ballermann's place
A citizens' initiative is set to protest against mass tourism on Mallorca once again. They have called for a symbolic occupation of a beach bar on the so-called Ballermann via social media. The protest by "Mallorca Platja Tour" at the popular German tourist beach locale "Balneario 6" is scheduled to take place this Sunday between 11:00 and 13:00.
This is the third such action by the initiative on the Spanish holiday island. However, few participants are expected. At their first two symbolic "occupations" at the end of May at the beach Sa Ràpita and mid-June at the so-called Instagram cove Calò des Moro, only a few dozen people were gathered. At the Ballermann on Sunday, the protesters are likely to be significantly outnumbered by German tourists.
Meanwhile, tens of thousands took to the streets of Palma this year to protest against mass tourism on two separate occasions. One of the main reasons for the discontent is the housing shortage caused by holiday rentals. Traffic jams, noise, and dirt also fray tempers.
Not everyone benefits from tourism income
The Balearic Islands, of which Mallorca is the main island, are home to around 1.2 million locals. Last year, they were visited by 18 million tourists, including 4.6 million from Germany and 3.4 million from the UK. This means there were approximately 15 tourists for every local resident.
Tourism is vital for Mallorca's economy, accounting for 45% of the island's GDP. Protesters complain that only a minority benefits, while the majority in the sector earn low wages that are not enough to afford increasingly expensive housing.
The Community expressed their concerns about the impact of mass tourism on Mallorca, urging for change in the housing situation caused by holiday rentals. Despite their protests, The Community often finds themselves outnumbered by tourists, such as on Sunday at the Balermann.
