Mallorca on the uprising: 8,000 protesters demand less tourism!

Mallorca on the uprising: 8,000 protesters demand less tourism!

in Palma de Mallorca, the anger of the locals over mass tourism was discharged last weekend. About 8,000 people demonstrated against the outstanding number of visitors and the associated problems under the motto "Meny's Turisme, Més Vida" ("Less tourism, more life"). The protest train led from Plaça d’Espanya to the promenade Passigig del Born. The participants chanted slogans like "Whoever loves Mallorca, don't destroy them!" and demanded an urgently needed turn in tourism.

The protests were aimed not only at the regional and national governments, but also directly to the tourists themselves. Some of the demonstrating sprayed holidaymakers with water pistols to point out the critical situation. According to the leisure economist Anna Burton, the legal framework for mass tourism on the island is criticized. She emphasizes that it takes a balance between the economic profits through tourism and the minimization of social and ecological costs to maintain the quality of life of the locals.

growing tourist flows and their consequences

The Balearic Islands expect a visitor record of over 20 million tourists in 2025, which is an increase of over 5 million compared to the previous year. Also in 2024, around 13.5 million tourists already emerged. The German clientele is the largest group, with over 5 million arrivals and an increase of 9 % compared to 2023, when 3 million Germans already spent on the island. Tourists spent a total of 22.4 billion euros on the Balearic Islands, which means an increase of 12 % compared to the previous year.

But the massive growth also have disadvantages. High rents, scarce living space, garbage and noise are just a few of the problems that are reinforced by tourism. The protesters not only require a limitation of the number of visitors, but also a moratorium for cruises and an end to the tourist rental. Jaume Pujol, spokesman for the roof initiative, criticized the ignorance of the regional government since this had occurred in July 2024.

measures to contain tourism

In other European cities affected by mass tourism, drastic measures have already been taken. Cities like Barcelona and Venice have established strict rules and prohibitions. In Barcelona, ​​for example, it is planned by 2028 to ban 10,000 objects for short -term rentals. In Venice, tourists have to pay admission during the high season, and large tour groups are no longer allowed. Similar regulations could also be discussed in Mallorca to protect social and ecological balance.

• Some possible measures to restrict tourism are:
• Tickets for day visitors
• upper limits for tourist beds
• marketing campaigns for sustainable tourism
• increased tourism taxes or taxes

The arguments of Anna Burton, who not considers a closure of regions to be sensible for one year, underline the need to find well -thought -out solutions. The example of Barcelona shows that the pressure on cities from tourists remains unbroken, and a rethinking is urgently needed to protect the identity and quality of life of the locals.

While the Balearic Islands expect record -breaking visitor numbers, it remains to be seen how the protest movement in Palma will affect the regional and national decision -makers. The goal of the demonstrators remains clear: a sustainable and environmentally conscious tourism policy that also takes into account the needs of the local population.

like Merkur could be necessary to weigh the tourist gains against social and ecological costs in the near future lead fundamental changes in dealing with tourism in the Balearic Islands. Questions about maximizing earnings may also be called up in other affected regions of Europe.

The situation in Mallorca remains tense, and the demands for a significant reduction in tourist flows are louder than ever. The balance between economic success and the needs of the locals must be found.

More details on the protest and the background can be removed from the report by Tagesschau