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An estimated 10,000 people participated in a protest in Palma de Mallorca, the capital of the archipelago, while another 1,000 protested in Ibiza, holding up signs that read "Residents appeal for help" and "Enough is enough of this tourism overload."
The protesters want authorities to prevent people who have not resided in the area for more than five years from buying real estate, as well as to strengthen controls on resort properties, aiming for sustainable tourism development instead of the current uncontrolled boom.
Images show large crowds of people participating in protests in Spain.
The protesters want authorities to take drastic measures to protect the rights of local residents. They propose banning those who have not resided in the Balearic Islands for more than five years from buying real estate, and increasing controls on resort properties.
According to them, the increasing conversion of properties for tourism purposes is what has driven up house prices.
The goal is to promote sustainable tourism development, rather than the current uncontrolled and uncontrolled tourism. These measures aim to ensure that tourism development does not harm the environment and the quality of life of the island's inhabitants.
The archipelago is known as a beautiful tourist destination and attracts many visitors.
Local authorities have pledged to listen to the people's opinions and take measures to address issues related to tourism. However, the authorities also stated that they cannot ban tourism because it is a vital economic sector for the archipelago.
The massive anti-tourism protests in the Balearic Islands are a prime example of the tensions that can arise between the tourism industry and local communities. Resolving these tensions requires open dialogue and cooperation among all stakeholders.
According to the Spanish National Institute of Statistics, last year the Balearic Islands were the second most popular tourist destination in the country, attracting 14.4 million visitors, second only to Catalonia, which welcomed around 18 million. According to the travel agency Exceltur, tourism accounts for 45% of the Balearic Islands' gross domestic product (GDP).
