Balearic Islands stop influencers: An uprising against mass tourism!

Balearic Islands stop influencers: An uprising against mass tourism!

The Balearic islands of Mallorca and Ibiza have decided to end the use of social media influencers to promote travel destinations. This decision is a direct response to the growing environmental and congestion problems caused by so-called “selfie tourism.” Loud Nah The aim of this measure is to reduce the pressure on well-known tourist locations by promoting less frequented places instead. But instead of minimizing mass flows, tourist crowds have expanded to remote and ecologically sensitive areas such as Caló des Moro Bay. This bay, which was originally intended for around 100 people, was overrun by up to 4,000 visitors every day.

Activists and local authorities are reacting vehemently to the situation. The mayor of Caló des Moro urged journalists and tour operators to stop mentioning the bay. As overcrowding has become unbearable, local authorities also removed images of this bay from their website. Likewise, access to popular viewpoints, such as Es Vedrà in Ibiza, has been closed due to litter issues and overcrowding. Overton reports on ongoing protests in Spain against the negative consequences of mass tourism, particularly rising housing costs and the cruel conditions suffered by residents in holiday areas.

Protests against mass tourism

In recent weeks, protests against mass tourism in Spain have become more intense. One weekend, tens of thousands of people demonstrated on the Canary Islands under slogans such as “Mass tourism is making us homeless” and “The Canary Islands cannot be bought”. These protests are a response to the inevitable consequences, such as high rents for accommodation, which can exceed 1,000 euros for a room, as well as the increase in garbage, lack of water, traffic chaos and noise, which significantly affect the everyday life of the original residents.

A particularly creative protest took place in Caló des Moro, where 300 residents occupied the bay to draw attention to the massive problems. However, this action was disbanded as unauthorized by the paramilitary Guardia Civil. The organizers criticized the interruption of their peaceful assembly and the restriction of their fundamental rights, while lawyer Toni Bennàssar stressed that a permit is not required for such gatherings, only a notification.

Complaints about mass tourism are not limited to the Balearic Islands. Similar protests can also be observed in many other cities in Spain, such as Barcelona, ​​Madrid and Seville. In the coming period, further large-scale demonstrations against these practices are planned for July 21st and September 27th.

In summary, the developments in the Balearic Islands and the protests throughout Spain clearly show that mass tourism not only represents an economic challenge, but also seriously endangers social and ecological concerns. Citizens are demanding urgent action on rents and pollution as tourism continues to explode. In 2023, Spain recorded a record year with 347.1 million hotel room nights, underlining the urgency of the issue.