PALMA (dpa-AFX) - Thousands of people have once again protested against mass tourism in Mallorca. According to police estimates, around 8,000 people marched from Plaça d'Espanya in the center of the island's capital Palma to the Passeig del Born promenade in the evening. The final rally took place there.

The demonstrators, including many pensioners and families with small children, chanted slogans such as "If you love Mallorca, don't destroy it!" The demonstration on the Spanish holiday island was organized by the umbrella initiative "Menys turisme, més vida" ("Less tourism, more life"), which includes numerous organizations and groups.

The initiative's spokesperson, Jaume Pujol, told the regional newspaper Diario de Mallorca: "We have to set limits on tourism." Among other things, they are calling for a cap on visitor numbers, a moratorium on cruises, and an end to tourist rentals.

Visitor numbers are growing steadily

Almost a year after the big protest in July 2024, nothing has happened, Pujol complained. They have been completely ignored by the regional government. "The only thing they did was hold a few debates on sustainability, which were a complete failure," he criticized.

The number of tourists is growing every year. The Balearic Islands, including Mallorca, Ibiza, and others, are expected to break the 20 million visitor mark for the first time this year. In 2024, around 19 million visitors came, one million or five percent more than in 2023.

Tourism is ringing up the cash registers

Mallorca alone, which has less than a million inhabitants, welcomed 13.5 million tourists last year. The number of visitors from Germany climbed by nine percent in 2024 to a record high of just over five million in the Balearic Islands.

Tourists from abroad and within Spain spent 22.4 billion euros on the islands in 2024 – around twelve percent more than in 2023. Tourism accounts for over 40 percent of Mallorca's total income. The industry is delighted, but discontent is growing among the local population.

Protests against mass tourism also took place in other Spanish cities on Sunday, including Barcelona. However, according to police estimates, only around 600 people took part there. The demonstrators marched through the streets of the Catalan capital with water pistols, among other things. /er/DP/mis