Palma will host the first mass protests of the year this Saturday, April 5, when people in cities across the country will take to the streets demanding solutions to the housing crisis which, to a large part, has been blamed on mass tourism or rather poor tourism and housing policies.
The slogan for the protests is “Let’s end the housing business” (Acabemos con el negocio de la vivienda but it is feared that the demonstrations to revive memories of last year’s anti-mass tourism protests and send out the wrong message to potential tourists.
Last month, a letter signed by seven protest groups urges tourists not to come to Mallorca.
In the letter they stated: “The greed and avarice of hoteliers, politicians, real estate investors, and ‘parasites’ of all kinds” have led to the deterioration of the island territory and ecosystem, infrastructure problems, overcrowded public services, gentrification, and the decline in quality of life. These are all the result of uncontrolled tourism.
“Mallorca is not the paradise they are selling you. “The local population is angry, and we are no longer hospitable because the land we love is being destroyed, and many residents are having to emigrate.”
The letter concluded: “It’s time to take a step forward. Our leaders aren’t listening to us; it’s time to ask you NOT TO COME. We don’t need more tourists; in fact, you are the source of our problem.
"At this moment, we have no choice but to ask for your understanding and for you to understand that we, the people of Mallorca, are saying: ENOUGH! STAY HOME!” For 2025, housing will be one of the three key themes of the actions being planned. The others will be job insecurity and the general notion of ‘limits’ in the Balearic political agenda, be these, for example, environmental or to do with transport.
11 comments
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KarlI doubt 'they' are the politicians and multi national hotels (who are the ones who created this 'hell')
Morgan WilliamsMy response to your comment is in the plural... and they bounce!
Ungrateful and stupid. They created their own hell.
OK go ahead and protest. But it may be a somewhat wasted effort, as it seems Trump may actually succeed in crashing the global economy, so we can expect some declines in tourism. How much remains to be seen.
“ but it is feared that the demonstrations… send out the wrong message to potential tourists.” I’m not fearful at all. Nobody wants to completely eradicate tourism. The current levels are unsustainable, however. And you know this.
ChrisWell I’ll be on the island in 7 short weeks time , staying in the far southwest of the island in a 3rd generation owned hotel we’ve visited over 30 times in 25 yrs. and will meet the new 4th generation arrival. They’re great people. But beyond that place some venues the standards are not what they were. And some staff would equal the mediocre standards that’s common place in some British establishments. Central bar , concierge in port Andriax are still good and up in Soller standard are old school particularly in el pirate in the port. So as a veteran of nearly 50yrs. of Balearic visits , progress has not been always positive.
How many of these "Protesters" have already lost their jobs, and businesses ? Reports in various news items, and countries. Have already said that Tourists do not want to come to this protesting Island. They will be more welcome in other parts of the World, and are booking different holidays there as well.
David HollandIt still is like that, nothing has changed. Where have you actually encountered any negative behaviour towards tourists themselves. I've not heard any such complaints from visitors in the past 12 months.
Dear angry citizens of Mallorca I can complete your statement “Let’s end the housing business” by adding "affordable housing", with this point of view, I can only say that you cant be more wrong, start to increase your minimum salaries by adding industry that can create jobs with an decent paycheck so you can afford - you need reforms on the labour market, 1000 EUR pr month doesn't bring you in position to rent or buy anything. Many years ago your politicians decided to bet all the money on tourists and since then the youth have left the island and started an avalanches of brain drain from the island putting you in this miserable position where you not are master in your own house, and believe me it doesn't help to start education in Mallorquin, doing so is like shooting you self in the foot, it will lead to lees educated children with no possibility to earn their way - very very bad idea, you need international teachers for all levels from grammar school up to university level and even better. Tourists are not the root cause to your problems, they are part of the solution, you just need to figure out how to attract the right ones. infrastructure problems and overcrowded public services, well you have the rush hour 4 times a day plus you have EMT commuters to travel free of charge, were is the logic behind that both arguments are answer to your problems.
Not all tourists are unwelcome. The crux of the issue as is being claimed by protestors is the large number of private properties that are being used as holiday lets/accommodation by visiting tourists. It's not tourists staying in hotels because locals don't live in hotel rooms. So the solution is to limit the number of holiday let properties and put some back on the rental market for locals' occupation. New York had a similar problem and has recently taken measures that Palma could copy the main one being to outlaw stays of less than 30 days through Airbnb. It's early days but this measure is hoped to drastically reduce the number of short stay holiday lets. Protestors would do well to abandon the planned protest on Saturday (which will surely have the effect of frightening off the welcomed tourists who are staying in hotels) and begin a campaign to lobby the Council to follow NY's lead. As I've said before on this subject, noisy banner waving and marching is not the solution and will only have the effect of causing anxiety among tourists currently on the island as well as those considering coming here for a holiday and seeing the protest on their news feeds.