Mallorca mass tourism protests can stop now

The damage has been done, the anti-tourism overcrowding has done global damage to the island

More protests against mass tourism are planned in the Balearics. | Majorca Daily Bulletin reporter

Humphrey CarterPalma21/06/2024 12:37

While on the one hand I sympathise with the anti-mass tourism protesters as I’ve lived here long enough to see how the island has changed along with my lifestyle due to the spike in living costs, the damage has been done, so let’s just give it a break now.

I know for a fact that the organisers of the beach protests were surprised by the international media attention they attracted - one did his or her best (naming no names) to do everything to avoid the local and international media for fear of professional repercussion at work. That said, the local authorities in Mallorca and across the Balearics have done little to calm the fury in the international media. Has anyone come out officially fighting the corner of the tourist industry and made it clear that holidaymakers are welcome? After all, we all need to make a living in Mallorca. No. Members of the private sector have, but the government has tended to agree that some parts of Mallorca, if not all of it, need some breathing space. Fine, then do something sensible and proactive about it, because reading the headlines in the UK and Germany, not to mention further afield, it’s grim and alarming.

On the whole, the foreign media is not interested in the ins and outs of local politicians; they’ll take what they see and run with it and that is that Mallorca does not want tourists.

Also in News

Spanish police: fewer British fugitives.

The 90 day rule does have some positive results in Spain!

Mallorca, "a beautiful island full of tourists like Benidorm"

Buying a 500,000 euro house in Spain, the solution to paperwork nightmare for Britons and 90 day rule

Revival of statute of limitations for illegal building work in the Balearics

2 comments

To be able to write a comment, you have to be registered and logged in

Morgan Williams | 5 months ago

Yes, Magaluf is struggling now, but British media have leveraged that, and when the Brits move out due to the imaginary anti-british movement, there's plenty of others willing to pay more and not trash the place. We can only hope. Enjoy Crete.

Answer

I like it6

I don't like it1

Zoltan Teglas | 5 months ago

You mean the foreign media just lie to cause controversy. The organisers made it perfectly clear that the demonstrations were not against tourism. And people who say that the overcrowding is because of the 200,000 new residents (in the last 20 years) - most of these people have come here to work in the tourist industry or related industries. So if the UK and German gutter press help reduce tourist numbers by 10% that has to be a good thing and maybe we can get back to some sort of sustainability and not the never ending growth that only the likes of Meliá and Barcelo crave.

Answer

I like it6

I don't like it2