Mallorca in chaos: protests against overcrowded tourism!

Mallorca in chaos: protests against overcrowded tourism!

In recent years, mass tourism in the Balearic Islands, especially in Mallorca, has become an urgent problem. According to a spokesman for the Balearic Ministry of Tourism, the current advertising strategy is having the opposite effect of what was intended and contradicts the government's efforts to control tourism. This has led to a worrying situation where popular spots such as Calo des Moro are overrun by thousands of visitors every day. This small bay, intended for around 100 people, is now flooded by up to 4,000 people and 1,200 vehicles every day, according to Mayor Maria Pons. She called on media and tour operators to stop reporting on the bay. In a drastic move, the local authority has removed all images of the bay from its website.

Additionally, it is revealed that access to a popular viewpoint on Es Vedra, Ibiza, has been closed due to crowds and rubbish. The Balearic Islands are expecting a record number of 20 million visitors in 2024. A survey by the Foundation association shows that 59% of Mallorca's residents reject mass tourism. There have already been large demonstrations against this form of tourism, and further events have been announced for June. An open letter from seven Mallorcan organizations urges tourists to stay at home to save the overcrowded and uninhabitable island.

Social and economic impacts

Tourism has immense economic importance for the Balearic Islands; in Mallorca the industry even accounts for 45% of economic output. However, this dependency also brings with it significant problems. Rising prices, noise and the destruction of nature are just some of the negative consequences that affect the quality of life of locals. It is estimated that one in five residents of the Balearic Islands is at risk of poverty. In addition, rents have risen by around 158% in the last ten years, further exacerbating the housing shortage.

In May 2024, the regional government under President Margalida Prohens announced a political and social pact for economic, social and environmental sustainability. The aim of the pact is to make tourism more sustainable and minimize its negative impact on the environment and society. Antoni Riera, professor of applied economics at the University of the Balearic Islands, chaired the technical committee, which created twelve thematic working groups to address various aspects of tourist overcrowding.

Challenges for the sustainability pact

These working groups cover a variety of topics, including social sustainability, environmental sustainability, tourism competitiveness and tourism services. Each group is coordinated by a regional government director general. The involvement of all stakeholders, including employment agencies, employers' associations and environmental organizations, was seen as crucial by the government. However, despite all efforts, there were setbacks; In November 2024, the “Forum for Citizens’ Interests” suspended its participation in the pact and questioned the methodology. The environmental organization Grup d'Ornitologia Balear (GOB) and the Palma residents' association also withdrew, which is affecting the credibility of the committee.

Protests against mass tourism increased in 2024, with up to 20,000 participants in Palma. The demonstrators pointed out rising rents, noise and pollution, while only a small elite benefit from tourism. The Sustainability Pact allowed citizens to submit proposals between July and October 2024, with 576 contributions received. The majority of these proposals focused on environmental and transport issues.

The working groups are currently in the analysis phase to develop strategic guidelines and action plans for a sustainable future for the Balearic Islands. However, it remains unclear whether the government is able to address the concerns of organizations that have left the pact and implement concrete measures to address the challenges of mass tourism. Time is running out and the need for a sustainable solution for the Balearic Islands is becoming more and more urgent.