Tens of thousands of people, 25,000 according to the National Police and 70,000 according to the organisers, demonstrated this Sunday in Palma to demand a decrease in tourism in Mallorca.
The platform 'Menys turisme, més vida' gathered this Sunday in Palma tens of thousands of people, 25,000 according to the National Police and 70,000 according to the organisers, in a protest that calls for local, regional, and state institutions to implement a decrease in tourism in Mallorca. The demonstrators, supported by 145 entities from the island, marched through the city centre from Plaza España to Ses Voltes, where a manifesto was read demanding urgent measures in response to what they consider a tourist invasion.
During the reading of the manifesto, the organisers denounced that "touristification has invaded our coasts, then our towns and cities, and is currently occupying our homes." They pointed out that, amid a housing crisis, more than 105,000 homes in Mallorca are used for tourism, whether legally or illegally. The protest takes place in the last summer before the electoral cycle of 2027, and the organisers urged politicians to "take note" of their demands.
The march set off shortly after 19:00 from Plaza España, moved along the Avenidas to the Tub square, diverted towards the Rambla and Passeig del Born, and culminated at Ses Voltes. There, the spokespeople for the platform stated that they will only accept "a decrease in tourism as a solution," because in Mallorca "there is no room for more cars, no room for more hotels, no room for more tourist rentals, no room for more coffee franchises, fast food or cheesecake, and no room for more tourists."
The organisers also criticised the PP-led Govern, presided over by Marga Prohens, for boasting about "tourism containment policies" and "social dialogue." They believe that the massive turnout at the demonstration demonstrates a social discontent that contradicts those claims. "We demand that they stop ignoring social demands and set clear limits that prioritise the needs of the citizens," they expressed.
Among the most shouted chants were slogans like "Marga Prohens, listen to the people," "Wherever you look, it's all tourists," "Tourist go home," "Mallorca defended, not sold," and "Cruise ships out of our islands." The diversity of ages was notable, from young people to the elderly, with many waving Mallorcan flags and holding signs with messages like "For sale, Illes Balears," "I'm not having a great time in summer," "Full capacity," "We are not your Monopoly," or "I miss Mallorca." Some demonstrators carried a cardboard cruise ship just over a metre and a half long, while a batukada entertained the gathering with music, and its members wore the traditional Mallorcan 'rebosillo' headdress and had their faces painted like skulls.
The platform also referred to the two activists detained in Santa Maria del Camí accused of vandalising five real estate agencies with messages against speculation. They believe that these arrests demonstrate that "the security forces have begun a repressive wave to stop the movement against touristification." The protest concluded with the manifesto, which emphasised that a decrease in tourism "is already an unavoidable condition" to guarantee "decent public services tailored to the needs of the population, the survival of our language and culture, housing for living and not for speculation, fewer evictions, less racism, and better working conditions."
The residents of Palma and the rest of the island have experienced another summer marked by the debate over the tourism model. This Sunday’s demonstration adds to previous mobilisations in various parts of Mallorca, reflecting a growing citizen discontent with the impact of mass tourism on daily life, access to housing, and the environment. The platform has announced that it will continue to mobilise until the administrations adopt concrete measures.
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