Thousands of locals took part in an anti-tourism demonstration in the capital Palma de Mallorca today, the latest demonstration against a key industry in the Iberian nation.
Activists walked the streets of Palma de Mallorca carrying makeshift models of planes and cruise ships and holding signs reading “No to mass tourism” and “Stop private jets”.
Anti-tourism activists have held a series of protests this year in Barcelona as well as popular holiday destinations such as Palma de Mallorca, Malaga and the Canary Islands.
Protesters say tourists are driving up housing costs, making it impossible for residents to afford to live in the city.
Around 10,000 protesters took part in Sunday’s demonstration in Mallorca, police said.
A woman holds up a sign during a demonstration against mass tourism in Mallorca (Photo: AFP via Getty Images)
The protest is one of many held across Spain this year calling for fewer tourists to visit the country (Photo: Reuters)
Pere Joan Femenia, from Menis Tourismo, Mas Vida (Less Tourism, More Life), which organised a protest in Mallorca on Sunday, said he wanted to reduce visitors to the island.
“Mass tourism is hurting locals who can’t afford to live on the islands because tourist apartments drive up prices. In summer tourists crowd the beaches, putting a strain on public services,” he said.
“We want to cut down on mass tourism and prohibit non-residents from buying homes that are only used a few months a year or are speculative.”
The Balearic Islands were Spain’s second most popular tourist region after Catalonia last year, attracting 14.4 million holidaymakers, according to the Spanish National Statistics Institute.
Tourism generates 45 percent of the Balearic Islands’ gross domestic product, according to data from industry group Exceltur.
Spain received 16.1 million visitors in the first quarter of this year, up 18% from the same period last year.
Tourists in Spain spent 109 billion euros ($118.56 billion) last year, compared with 63.5 billion euros in France.
Additional reporting by Reuters.
