As tourism numbers reach unprecedented levels in Spain’s Balearic Islands, thousands of local residents have taken to the streets in protest. Tourist numbers for the upcoming summer are expected to surpass last year’s 14.4 million, according to the Spanish National Statistics Institute.
The main demonstration took place in the island’s capital, Palma de Mallorca, with an estimated 10,000 participants, according to a spokesperson for the Spanish National Police. Smaller protests were also reported in neighboring Minorca. “SOS Residents, Enough Mass Tourism” and “Mallorca no es ven (Mallorca is not for sale)” were amongst the messages displayed on posters and signs.
This mass demonstration was organized by Carme Reynés, spokesperson for Banc del Temps de Sencelles, to highlight the island’s housing crisis, which is directly related to the upswing in tourism and the increased purchase of holiday/second homes. Reynés outlined the challenges faced by locals competing with foreign incomes and highlighted the problem of non-residents buying property.
Despite contributing to almost half of the region’s GDP, tourism is increasingly being blamed for locals being priced out of their own homes. There are instances where professionals such as nurses and police officers have been forced to live in cars and caravans due to the inflated housing prices on the islands.
This anti-tourism sentiment is not unique to the Balearic Islands. A similar movement has been seen in Tenerife, where locals have even gone on a hunger strike to protest the spike in tourism in the Canary Isles. As tourism continues to grow unchecked across these idyllic Spanish islands, it seems clear that more action will need to be taken to address the concerns of local residents.