The population can hardly afford an apartment anymore – now the mayor of Palma wants to combat excessive tourism with new measures.
It’s all about this: Mass tourism is putting increasing pressure on Mallorca, and now tougher measures are being considered. The mayor of the island’s capital, Palma, wants to limit the number of visitors and rental cars. In addition, private individuals will no longer be allowed to rent out holiday homes, and party boats will be banned. In order to implement his ideas, the mayor needs the approval of other authorities, which is anything but certain. But one thing is clear: the people of Mallorca are fed up with excessive mass tourism.
Even the president of the tourism lobby admits that the limits of growth have been exceeded in some places.
Dissatisfied population: Last Saturday, an estimated 10,000 to 25,000 people took part in a demonstration against mass tourism in Palma. It was the largest protest event in recent years. The slogan of the demonstration was: “That’s enough!” and “Mallorca is not for sale!” Regional media spoke of a “historic” protest. The main focus was on the consequences of mass tourism: living space is becoming scarce for locals and rent prices are rising. Tourism is essential for Mallorca, but a minority benefits more than average from it.
That’s why things are getting serious now: After the pandemic, Spaniards were initially happy that tourists were coming to them for their holidays again. But now many places are being overrun. In 2023, 90 million people went on holiday in Spain – and most of them visited places that are already full: the Balearic Islands, Canary Islands, Barcelona or Andalusia. “Now even the president of the tourism lobby has admitted that the limits of growth have been exceeded in some places,” says Julia Macher, a journalist living in Spain. This shows that a change of heart is underway.
Enough is enough: The collapse of a terrace at the Ballermann in Palma, in which four people died, is likely to have increased the discontent of the people of Mallorca. “For many, the accident is proof of the recklessness of many who live from tourism, as well as the fact that mass tourism is no longer under control,” says the journalist. Indeed: The mayor of Palma can rely on twelve inspectors – they are supposed to check the approximately 5,000 bars and restaurants. “This shows that in certain places the situation is no longer under control,” says Macher.