2024-07-24 07:06:06
Protesters in Palma demanded that the government reverse course and set limits on the number of incoming tourists. One poster read: “Your luxury, our misery.” Another read: “This is not tourismophobia, these are the numbers: 1,232,014 inhabitants, 18 million tourists.”
The weekend protests were organized by around 80 public organizations and social groups that want restrictions on mass tourism in the Balearic Islands, which also include the three popular tourist islands of Avis, Mallorca and Menorca. The organizers of the protests are convinced that the current model of mass tourism has led to the fact that public service providers can no longer cope. They also claim that mass tourism has not only had a devastating effect on the natural resources of these islands, but has also increased the cost of living tremendously. The opportunities of local residents to rent housing are decreasing due to both the lack of availability and rapidly rising prices.
Last year, a new record for the number of tourists visiting the Balearic Islands was reached – 17.8 million people. It is predicted that the number of tourists will be even higher this year.
Sunday’s protests follow protests on all three major islands in late May, in which protesters demanded curbs on mass tourism with the slogan: “Our islands are not for sale.”
According to activists, housing costs are rising rapidly because a large part of houses and apartments are bought by foreigners or these houses are rented out to tourists at a higher price than local residents can afford to pay.
Majorca movements Less tourism, more life representative Pere Juan Femenia in an interview with the BBC claims that the unprecedented number of tourists has not only led to the displacement of locals from the housing market, but tourists have flooded all public places, public services and the use of natural resources. Even local businesses have shifted from selling traditional products to selling products of multinational companies, such as ice cream.
2024-07-24 07:06:06