An estimated 10,000 people took part in protests in Palma de Mallorca, the archipelago's capital, and another 1,000 in Ibiza, holding placards reading "Residents call for help" and "Enough with overtourism".
Protesters want authorities to prevent people who have not lived here for more than 5 years from buying real estate, as well as increase control over resort real estate, aiming towards sustainable tourism development instead of the current massive development.
Image of large crowds of people participating in protests in Spain
Protesters want the authorities to take drastic measures to protect the rights of local residents. They are calling for a ban on property purchases by people who have not lived in the Balearic Islands for more than five years, and for increased controls on holiday properties.
According to them, it is the fact that more and more real estate is being converted to tourism purposes that has pushed up house prices.
The aim is to move towards sustainable tourism development, instead of the current situation of massive and uncontrolled tourism. These measures are to ensure that tourism development does not harm the environment and the quality of life of the islanders.
This archipelago is known as a beautiful tourist destination and attracts many tourists.
Local authorities have pledged to listen to residents and take steps to address tourism concerns, but have also said they cannot ban tourism as it is an important economic sector for the islands.
The protests against mass tourism 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 between all parties involved.
Last year, the Balearic Islands were the second most popular tourist destination in Spain, attracting 14.4 million people, according to the Spanish National Statistics Institute, behind only Catalonia, which hosted around 18 million visitors. According to tourism agency Exceltur, tourism generates 45% of the Balearic Islands' gross domestic product (GDP).
