An “anti-tourism” protest is expected to take place on the popular holiday destination of Mallorca later this month. The move follows demonstrations in Spain’s Canary Islands in April amid growing concerns among locals about the increase in tourists.
The demonstration is scheduled to take place in Mallorca’s capital Palma on Saturday, May 27, according to Mallorca Daily. Organizers said they were calling for the protest “to adequately deal with tourist crowds.”
The organizer said: “On May 25th, we must take to the streets. We have had enough of tourist overcrowding, the destruction of our territory, and the lack of protection afforded to the people living on the islands.
Read more: Manchester Airport records record April as Dublin and Dubai rank among popular destinations
“We must demand responsibility from institutions because we want to live in our homes and protect our lives, and because we do not want Mallorca to become a luxury resort.The right to housing It is for the protection of our people, our own language and culture. ”
Demonstrations against mass tourism were held in Tenerife in April – Credit: AP
On Wednesday, May 8, Balearic Islands President Marga Proens answered media questions about the protests. “The government understands that restrictions are necessary. They must allow the activities of tourists and the well-being of Balearic Islanders to go hand in hand,” she wrote in a post on X.
The protests followed thousands of people taking to the streets in April to protest tourism in the Canary Islands. Demonstrations took place on the islands of Tenerife, Lanzarote, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura and La Palma, with people holding placards that read: “The Canary Islands have limits.” These protests were spurred by concerns over large-scale tourism developments on the island that are impacting the natural landscape, depleting resources and affecting the livelihoods of local residents.
Last weekend, new laws to crack down on alcohol came into effect in the Balearic Islands. The government has introduced tougher laws in popular hotspots such as Playa de Palma and Magaluf on Mallorca and Sant Antoni on Ibiza. Under the new law, which came into force on May 11, anyone caught drinking alcohol outside a licensed venue will be fined between €500 and €1,500 (£430 and £1,290). The purpose is to deal with anti-social behavior among visitors, and the number of sanctions against foreigners is tallied and submitted to each embassy.
For more of today’s top stories, click here.
