More than 20,000 people protest in Palma against tourist overcrowding on the island

More than 20,000 people According to the government delegation, according to organizers, 50,000 people took to the streets Palma de Mallorca Protests against overcrowding of tourists on the island, falling wages, declining quality of life, traffic congestion on roads and beaches, noise, consumption of territory, and rising housing and rental prices.

This is the second major demonstration since May 25

This is about The second major demonstration According to the government delegation, these characteristics remain in place following the meeting held on May 25, although the number of participants this Sunday is likely to be higher.
The “Let’s change the route and limit tourism” protest started at 7:00 pm, passed through the main streets and ended in the city center.

Platform organized “Less travel, more life”which adds some There are 110 entities, groups and social movements in Mallorca.

The demonstrations come during the peak tourist season, when thousands of tourists come to the Balearic Islands every day to enjoy the sun and beaches. The demonstrations hope to become “a inflection point, “It’s a blow to the table, and an action and mobilisation that has started on the four islands, not just in Mallorca, which will continue beyond the summer,” explained the platform’s spokesperson Pere Joan Femenia.

“The goal of this protest is to change the course; People are tired of an economic model that doesn’t take into account the problems tourism brings to residents”, has been explained.

Limiting the number of tourists and flights

Femininity ‘Concrete’ measures were proposed, e.g. Restricted flight arrivals To this end, the three airports of the Balearic Islands operated 4,786 flights, the number of cruise ships, car and holiday home rentals, and the “control” of home purchases by non-residents.
‘People want a period’ The spokesman said that because the number of tourists this year reached 20 million it was “unsustainable”, he regretted that the wealth generated by the sector “over the years” had not been distributed among the people, who had many difficulties buying or renting apartments.

One protester: “Mallorca is a paradise, this is no longer tourism, it’s an invasion”

The main banner of the demonstration read “Let’s change our course, let’s limit tourism”, but there were other slogans such as “More tourism than ever, exploitation as always”, “It’s not touristophobia, it’s Mallorca”, “Your luxury is our pain” or “Mallorca is not for sale.”

“We have become second-class citizens”

One of the participants, Pere Efei “We are here because we are tired of tourism; it is a matter of common sense: there are too many people and the goose that lays the golden eggs must be protected by limiting the arrival of tourists,” he said fiercely.

A young teacher, Albertexplaining that “Palma is completely uninhabitable” and recognizing that it is “very worried” If you can afford an apartment. “Somehow we Mallorcans have become second-class citizens,” Already summarized.
Parma resident Aina said it was “massage like Venice … between car rentals, tourist rentals, Airbnbs; we can’t even go out on the street.”

The protest of more than 20,000 people was peaceful and festive

However, he wanted to make it clear that his complaint was not against the tourism industry or tourists, but against “over-” tourism. “We all like to travel,” he admitted.

Toni, another 61-year-old Palma resident, assured:Mallorca is a paradise, this is no longer tourism, it is an invasionwe felt cornered and could no longer go to our usual beach.

The demonstration march through the city center surprised many tourists, some of whom took the opportunity to take photos or applaud while enjoying ice cream.

Some businesses temporarily lowered their shutters to avoid any accidents, but The protests were peaceful and joyful.

What do the political parties think?

Almost all games Balearic Islands Agree with the sense of social saturation and the need to move towards a model of tourism that respects the environment and is sustainable Peaceful coexistence With residents.

The protest was of interest to the international media, especially the British and German media.

In fact, the government Maja Prouns (PP) Large political and social forums were launched to analyse the problems and propose concrete solutions.

However, his representative in Mallorca’s Congress, Vox, said: Jorge Camposrated the demonstration’s participants with an “X” as a “rabble” who were against the jobs and livelihoods of “the majority of Mallorcans” and “scared” tourists.

As had happened in May, the protests were closely followed by the international media, especially the German and British media.