The protest and sheer number of people who took part will blast a clear message to the local authorities that thousands want change. Speaking personally I would say that the majority of people were Mallorcan and of all ages. They had come to Palma from across the island with many holding placards which read Soller has had enough and Arta wants change.
The protest had been organised by a series of local environmental groups, social organisations and trade unions. People came from all over the island to take part. The march started gathering at 7p.m.
Palma was unsually quiet even for a Sunday with many bars and shops on the route electing to close, just in case. There were fewer tourists as well. Word about the demonstration had obviously spread and quickly.
A recent Bulletin poll on our website said that some people were thinking twice about a holiday in Mallorcs because of the protests.
The international media were out in force. I spotted British and German camera crews. Infact BBC Breakfast this morning included a live report from the island
The march ended in the Paseo del Borne where speeches and a concert took place. The Borne was literally filled with people. Today, will go down in Mallorca history as the day when the island said Enough is Enough. Times are changing. The impact the march will have on the tourist industry is unclear but the local authorities now have a major headache; how to plan for the future. The present model of mass tourism is no longer wanted. There is plenty of food for thought.
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Just TogetpublishedGo to other places we will not be seeing our local MALLOCAN family and Friends.
The primary culprits in these situations are the Mallorquins (those who manage the large hotel and tourism industry). They continue to sell as much as possible, they have constructed massive hotels in beautiful natural locations in pursuit of profits. However, they live far removed from the consequences and only prioritise money. The facade has finally crumbled, revealing a group of hypocrites!
RoyTry somewhere else Roy, there are other places than Mallorca to visit.
We have been visiting Mallorca for about 40 years. Always made welcome and made lifelong friends with local families. We have stayed in Hotels ,Apartments and local Friends Houses.Spend our money in local shops Restaurants, bars, Markets and entertainment in local areas.If Visitors like us stop coming 3 plus times a year What will happen to local businesses and employment of local people.Be Careful for what you wish for.Without Tourists the economy and employment will be a thing of the past.
You want more affordable housing, get rid of these stupid squatter rights.
From what I can see, this was a bunch of South Americans and mainlanders blaming tourists for the high rents, a bit rich really, they can do one and go back home.
Richard Pearson, people who live there, pay property, income (and until recently wealth taxes), employ people and spend lots of money and are huge net contributors. Residents have to have private healthcare and can't really take employment. Tourists come, drink beer, eat Full English breakfasts, get drunk and figh, they use resources and contribute nothing. It is these people we want gone.
Lewis BlackI know many Mallorquins, and so far, none of them has expressed these views, except for some irritations with cyclists and a few other minor irritations. And most of them are either directly or indirectly benefiting from tourism in one way or another and aren't under any illusions about that. Yet at the core, the overall dissatisfaction is all but entirely about cost of living and availability of affordable housing, which tourism has precious little to do with. Agreed, over-tourism is irritating at peak times in the peak areas, but it is not the cause of their struggles. In terms of "affordable" housing, the ingress of foreign residents with far more fiscal resources than the average Palma-dweller is the verifiable cause, and that's not going to change, tourism or not, unless they can somehow ban such foreigners, which is a very very slippery slope to navigate. Well, impossible, really. And it's still a bit cheaper here than most major metropolitan areas in Europe, so the attraction isn't going away anytime soon either. The "cost of living" quotient is a global phenomenon, not related to tourism - and it's still a bit less expensive here than other places around Europe - except of course, for those choosing to live in beach resorts in summer, who most certainly aren't Mallorquins, and far more likely to be foreigners who can afford it anyway, otherwise, they wouldn't be there. I have to suspect that the protesters are made up of a combination of older Mallorquins who remember the "good old days" when the island was poor, with minimal infrastructure, and low cost of living (but tranquil and without tourist irritations), and groups of (younger) who aren't Mallorquin, but struggle to afford it, particularly in Palma and the resorts, where most of the income-generating potential is. And then a few who are largely agnostic and don't fully grasp what it's all about, but just along for the ride, because it's a fun social outing with friends and family.
It astounds me that the commentators who live there permanently don’t consider themselves to be part of the problem.
Lisa JuliaAbsolutely spot on and i think (hope) that politicians on all sides get it. They now need time to make changes, not only to the tourist model but vitally to the provision of affordable housing. I also don’t think that the negative press the demos have caused in the UK, Germany and worldwide will have a long term damaging effect if they stop now. However, if they escalate, the tourist model will change but noone in Mallorca will be in control of it. Possibly the worst outcome for the people of Mallorca who undoubtedly deserve better.