Press
People in Mallorca are fed up with mass tourism. Especially at Ballermann – but not only there. The Germans’ favorite holiday island is experiencing one of the biggest protests in its history.
Palma – “Tourists go home!”, people shouted over and over as they walked past terraces full of foreign guests in Palma. Thousands protested against mass tourism in Mallorca.
According to police estimates, around 10,000 people took to the streets under the slogan “Let’s say basta!” and “Mallorca is not for sale!” The organizers spoke of 25,000 participants.
But everyone agreed on one thing: it was a “historic” protest, as the regional newspapers “Diario de Mallorca” and “Última Hora” wrote. It was one of the largest demonstrations ever to take place on Mallorca, they said.
The discontent is great and is growing
The demonstrators, including many families with children, schoolchildren and students as well as pensioners, chanted slogans such as “Those who love Mallorca do not destroy it” as they marched along Palma’s main promenade, Passeig del Born. There were also many posters with slogans such as “If they deny us a roof, they deny us a future.” Trade unions, environmental groups and various citizens’ initiatives joined the protest.
The recently founded organisation “Banc de Temps de Sencelles” called for this. They blame the ever-increasing number of visitors and holiday homes for the housing shortage on Mallorca and for the “destruction” of the Spanish Mediterranean island. In a speech at the end of the demonstration, the group’s spokespersons called on the authorities to declare a housing emergency.
And rightly so, says Alba Martínez. “I am a single mother of two children and my landlord is going to throw me out soon. The prices are too high to pay, we have to take action,” she told “Diario de Mallorca”. The discontent is great and is growing. “Wherever you look, it’s all foreigners here,” chanted the protesters.
Tourism is vital for survival – and yet only a minority benefits
Tourism is indeed vital for the island’s survival. The industry accounts for 45 percent of Mallorca’s economic output. But as with protests in other tourism hotspots in the country, such as in the Canary Islands in April, there are complaints that only a minority benefits, while the vast majority get poorly paid jobs in the flourishing sector and suffer from a housing shortage, traffic jams, noise and dirt.
A performance by the protesters clearly reflected the mood: A participant dressed as a rich tourist strolled snootily between the tables of the cafés – and dragged a “local slave” behind her.
The Balearic Islands are small, with just under 1.2 million inhabitants. Last year, the number of visitors climbed to almost 18 million, 14.4 million of whom came from abroad. That is almost ten percent more than in 2022 and twice as many as 20 years ago. There is now hardly anyone who questions the need to limit the number of visitors.
Even real estate agents show solidarity
Even real estate agents, who benefit from the rise in house prices, sent a message of solidarity to the protesters. The pressure of mass tourism is “unsustainable” and housing is “inaccessible,” according to the real estate agent association Abini.
Politicians also know that it’s five minutes to midnight. A few days before the protest, Marga Prohens, the conservative regional president who has been in office for a year, promised measures. “The model has reached its limits,” she said. “Success in tourism does not lead to prosperity for the citizens.”
The discontent, anger and despair are particularly high at Ballermann, the German party capital. It is not just the residents who are complaining. The president of the Playa hoteliers, Pedro Marín, was not in the mood to celebrate last year despite a super occupancy rate of 97 percent. The 47-year-old complained that it was “one of the worst seasons ever” due to excesses, drunken tourism and crime.
Rally after restaurant collapse with four dead
The rally was inspired by the collapse of a restaurant in Ballermann. The accident on Thursday left four people dead, including two young women from Germany. Construction defects and overloading are suspected to be the cause.
Local residents are convinced that many of the buildings in the area are not suitable for mass tourism. In addition, there are hardly any controls by the authorities, complained Carmen Nogueira, president of the neighboring association AAVV Playa de Palma. “If the accident had happened at midnight, there would have been 200 deaths.” dpa
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