Tengrinews.kz – A large-scale protest against excessive tourism is being planned on the Spanish island of Mallorca, one of the most popular tourist destinations.
The demonstration will take place this coming Sunday in the central Plaza España. More than 60 civil society organizations are expected to participate, including trade unions and environmental groups.
Activists say the overwhelming tourist influx negatively affects the lives of locals: streets are overcrowded, housing prices are skyrocketing, and the ecosystem is under pressure.
According to the organizers, the cities of Sóller, Artà, and Palma suffer the most, along with coastal areas where “streets, markets, and squares turn into an endless tourist flow” and “housing becomes a luxury.”
"Of course, we want tourists to come. To get lost in the narrow streets of the old town and sit by the sea in winter. We want to share all of this, but not at such a cost. We are taking to the streets to say ‘enough’—and we’ll do so as many times as needed," the movement’s statement reads.
Last summer, a similar protest drew around 10,000 participants. This year, demonstrations are expected not only in Mallorca but also in Ibiza, Menorca, Barcelona, Tenerife, Málaga, Granada, San Sebastián, and even outside Spain—in Venice and Lisbon.