Thinking of visiting Spain? Watch out for the protests!
Thousands of Spaniards demonstrated on Sunday in Mallorca, Ibiza, and other Spanish cities, protesting against mass tourism which they see as destroying their daily lives. In Barcelona, about 600 people took to the streets carrying water guns, with some spraying tourists sitting in cafes. The protesters called for a reassessment of the influx of visitors which they say has exacerbated the housing crisis and distorted the city's identity.
One participant, Andrew Martinez, said with a laugh: "The water sprinklers are just meant to annoy tourists a little. Barcelona has become their property, and we want to take it back." He explained that rents in his area have risen by more than 30% due to the conversion of homes into short-term tourist apartments, which has forced long-time residents to leave and turned local shops into stores selling souvenirs and fast food.
In Mallorca, around 8,000 people participated in a march that started from "Plaça d'Espanya" and ended on "Passeig del Born", where they chanted slogans like "Those who love Mallorca, do not destroy it!" This demonstration was called by the movement "Menys turisme, més vida" (Less tourism, more life), which includes several civil organizations.
Jaume Bougol, the spokesperson for the movement, stated to the newspaper "Diario de Mallorca": "We need to impose limits on tourism." He called for a cap on the number of visitors, a halt to cruise ship docking, and stopping the rental of apartments for tourism. Despite last year's protests in July 2024, Bougol confirmed that the local government did not respond to the demands, but only engaged in discussions about sustainability that he deemed "empty of substance."
The number of tourists is continuously increasing, and it is expected that the Balearic Islands will exceed the barrier of 20 million visitors this year for the first time, after receiving 19 million in 2024, an increase of one million from 2023. Only Mallorca, which has a population of just over one million, received 13.5 million tourists last year.
The number of visitors from Germany has increased by 9% to over 5 million in 2024. Despite the protests, the economic benefits of tourism cannot be denied, as tourists spent a total of 22.4 billion euros in the Balearic Islands last year – an increase of 12% from 2023. Tourism represents more than 40% of Mallorca's income, making it a key economic pillar. However, public anger continues, as similar protests have erupted in Barcelona and Madrid in recent years demanding lower rents and the eviction of tourism platforms like Airbnb. The Spanish government recently demanded that the platform remove nearly 66,000 housing units from its listings, claiming they violate local laws.