Mass Protests in Palma de Mallorca, Mallorca, Canary Islands, Malaga, Baçelona and more.
To write a holiday rental blog, such as this, and, not write about the Spanish people protesting about mass tourism, would be to ignore the elephant in the room. So; here goes.
Mass anti-tourism protests in Spain
Thousands of residents took to the streets in the Balearic Islands this weekend to protest against the overwhelming influx of tourists and the resulting overcrowding.
On Saturday, demonstrators marched through the streets of Menorca and Mallorca, voicing their frustration over the rampant “massification” of tourism in Spain’s island regions.
Tourism significantly contributes to the Balearic Islands’ economy, making up approximately 45% of the region’s gross domestic product, according to industry organization Exceltur. However, locals argue that the booming holiday rental market is driving up property prices and making it difficult for them to afford housing.
Carme Reines, a representative from a collective that organized the protest in Palma de Mallorca, stated, “We want the authorities to prevent people who haven’t lived here for more than five years from buying properties and to enforce stricter controls on holiday accommodations.”
Barcelona Tourists got sprayed with water by anti-tourism protesters
Less mass tourism and more sustainable tourism
Javier Carbonell, a real estate agent in Mallorca, echoed this sentiment, saying, “We want less mass tourism and more sustainable tourism.”
A spokesperson for the Spanish National Police estimated that around 10,000 people participated in the protest in Mallorca, while several hundred marched in Menorca.
The Balearic Group of Ornithology and Nature Protection of Menorca (GOB Menorca) highlighted on its website that the protest was against the mass influx of tourists, housing accessibility issues, water management problems, and the need for economic diversification on the island.
In a social media post, the group shared that demonstrators transformed Menorca’s Plaza de la Biosfera into a mock beachfront with deckchairs, towels, and sunglasses to symbolize their concerns.
Demonstrations against mass tourism
This protest is the latest in a series of demonstrations across Spain’s islands against mass tourism. The events in Menorca and Mallorca coincided with an anti-tourist march in Barcelona and followed a day after approximately 1,000 people demonstrated in Ibiza.
It has to be said, that the protests are against private rentals and private rental companies, not against places that were built especially to attract tourists. Think of Air B&B and you will understand.
