Mass tourism in Mallorca: 8,000 protest for more quality of life!

Mass tourism in Mallorca: 8,000 protest for more quality of life!
On the popular holiday island of Mallorca, the waves hit up again. On June 15, 2025, a large demonstration against mass tourism took place, which attracted around 8,000 people to the streets of Palma. The protest movement, which operates under the motto "Menys Turisme, Més Vida" (less tourism, more life), started at Plaça d’Espanya and ended on the passough del Born. Mainly pensioners and families with small children gathered to protest the increasingly pressing problems related to tourism. Slogans like "Whoever loves Mallorca doesn't destroy them!" were chanted loudly.
The initiative calls for comprehensive measures: a limitation of the number of visitors, a moratorium for cruise ships and an end to tourist rentals. Jaume Pujol, a spokesman for the initiative, criticized the regional government's ignorance since the protests last year. Despite such demands, a visitor record of over 20 million tourists is forecast for the 2024 season, a number that makes the Balearic Islands a play ball their own popularity. In 2024, Mallorca received around 13.5 million tourists, including an increase in Germany by nine percent, to over five million, as reported by the mainpost.de.
economic dimension of tourism
The economic influence of tourism in Mallorca cannot be denied. In total, the tourists spent around 22.4 billion euros on the Balearic Islands in 2024, which means an increase of around 12 percent compared to the previous year. With over 40 percent of the total income of the island, the tourism sector has a key role for Mallorca's economy. However, this economic growth also has challenges, including rising rental prices and an increasing overload of the infrastructure.
The problem of mass tourism is complex; Among other things, he leads to exploding rental prices that make it increasingly difficult for the locals to find affordable living space. According to [Isla-travel.de] (https://isla-travel.de/mallorca-magazin/mallorca-2024-mass tourism-trotz-protste-tourist-milliarden-aus/), environmental damage, such as lack of water and an increasing pollution of beaches, constant companion of tourism-related growth.
given the growing dissatisfaction
In response to social problems caused by mass tourism, the regional government of the Balearic Islands under President Margalida Prohens launched a new concept. A political and social pact for economic, social and ecological sustainability has been announced, which is under the direction of Antoni Riera, a professor of applied economy. The aim is to minimize the negative effects on the environment and society and to promote more sustainable tourism. The mallorcamagazin.com explains that there are twelve thematic working groups, with questions of social sustainability, concern ecological challenges and the profitability of tourism.
Despite these initiatives, several important interest groups have already withdrawn, including the "Forum for Citizens' Intervies" and the Environmental Organization Grup d’Ornitologia Balear (GOB). These departures indicate growing dissatisfaction with government policy and the current tourism model. It remains to be seen whether the political actors are able to address the concerns of the citizens and to make real progress. The ball is firmly in the field of decision -makers, while the protests stop and the population is looking for solutions.
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Ort | Palma, Spanien |
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