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

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

The waves are rising again on the popular holiday island of Mallorca. On June 15, 2025, a large demonstration against mass tourism took place, attracting around 8,000 people to the streets of Palma. The protest movement, which has the motto “Menys turisme, més vida” (Less tourism, more life), started at Plaça d’Espanya and ended at Passeig del Born. Mainly pensioners and families with young children gathered to protest against the increasingly pressing problems associated with tourism. Slogans like “If you love Mallorca, don’t destroy it!” were chanted loudly.

The initiative calls for comprehensive measures: a limit on the number of visitors, a moratorium on cruise ships and an end to tourist rentals. Jaume Pujol, a spokesman for the initiative, criticized the regional government's ignorance since last year's protests. Despite such demands, a record visitor number of over 20 million tourists is forecast for the 2024 season, a number that makes the Balearic Islands a pawn of its own popularity. In 2024, Mallorca received around 13.5 million tourists, including a nine percent increase in visitor numbers from Germany to over five million, as mainpost.de reports.

Economic dimension of tourism

The economic impact of tourism on Mallorca is undeniable. Overall, 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 island's total income, the tourism sector plays a key role in Mallorca's economy. However, this economic growth also brings with it challenges, including rising rental prices and increasing infrastructure congestion.

The problem of mass tourism is complex; Among other things, it leads to skyrocketing rental prices, which make it increasingly difficult for locals to find affordable housing. According to isla-travel.de, environmental damage, such as a lack of water and increasing pollution of beaches, are also constant companions of tourism-related growth.

In view of the growing discontent

In response to the social problems caused by mass tourism, the regional government of the Balearic Islands under President Margalida Prohens has launched a new concept. A political and social pact for economic, social and environmental sustainability was announced, led by Antoni Riera, a professor of applied economics. The aim is to minimize the negative impact on the environment and society and to promote more sustainable tourism. The mallorcamagazin.com explains that there are twelve thematic working groups that deal with questions of social sustainability, ecological challenges and the profitability of tourism.

However, despite these initiatives, several important interest groups have already withdrawn, including the Forum for Citizens' Interests and the environmental organization Grup d'Ornitologia Balear (GOB). These departures indicate growing dissatisfaction with government policies and the current tourism model. It remains to be seen whether political actors are able to address citizens' concerns and make real progress. The ball is firmly in the court of decision-makers as the protests continue and the population looks for solutions.