"Those devoted to Mallorca preserve its beauty" - Approximately 10,000 individuals demonstrate against excessive tourism.
Recently, a tragedy occurred at the "Medusa Beach Club" where four people, including two Germans, lost their lives. As a result, a large-scale protest against the impact of mass tourism on Mallorca took place on Saturday around 7 pm.
Police estimated that over 10,000 people showed up. The Balearic Islands seem to be following the lead of the Canary Islands. The organizers, which included environmental, labor, and civic groups, were taken aback by the high turnout.
The locals on the Balearic Islands seem to be reaching their breaking point!
The protest took place under the banner "Mallorca no es ven" (Mallorca is not for sale). The participants were upset about the rising cost of housing - many residents are experiencing a housing crisis!
In and around Palma, large illegal trailer parks have sprung up in the past two years, with entire families moving into caravans and mobile homes due to a lack of alternatives. They even took control of entire streets.
The demonstrators are demanding an end to the sale of Mallorca to foreign investors and the exploitation of its resources. Water shortages, especially in reserves, are already a major issue: some villages have had to ration water for all households during the tourist season. Villages like Deiá have become virtual ghost towns. Almost every second house is now owned by foreigners, including many second homeowners who are rarely present.
On display at the protest were posters with messages like "Do not sell the land of our grandparents" and "Who loves Mallorca does not destroy it".
Is the island too crowded?
The organizers emphasized that they did not oppose a regulated form of tourism. Instead, they want it to be managed in a way that protects locals and the environment. Overcrowding on the island is also a concern, as it leads to overloads in the health sector, waste disposal, and road networks.
Affordable housing is a key priority for the citizens of the Balearic Islands. They don't want to be treated as second-class citizens anymore, as evidenced by the protesters' sentiments.
The village of Binibeca Vell on Menorca, considered one of the most beautiful villages in Spain, has implemented a series of measures in recent weeks to counter the effects of mass tourism on its residents. These measures include restricting access for visitors from 11 am to 8 pm. These measures will initially be implemented in May, June, and July.
Mallorca has been taking steps in recent years to address the issue of tourist influx, but so far without success.
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Source: symclub.org
