Tens of thousands of people are protesting this Saturday in Palma against overtourism, while parties blame each other for the granting of 115,000 tourist beds in eight years.
The centre of Palma has been filled with demands this Saturday. Tens of thousands of people, called by citizen platforms, have joined a massive march against overtourism that started from Plaça d'Espanya and has traversed the main streets of the Balearic capital, concluding at Ses Voltes. The protest, which began at 19:00, is proceeding normally although with traffic disruptions and alterations to public transport.
The organisers denounce that Mallorca has reached its ecological, territorial, and social limits, accusing successive governments of prioritising mass tourism over the needs of residents. In a statement circulated on social media, they warn of an unprecedented housing crisis and demand urgent measures to curb the proliferation of tourist flats and the saturation of services.
The demonstration coincides with a crossfire of accusations between the main political parties, less than a year before the regional elections. Sebastià Sagreras, spokesperson for the Popular Party led by Marga Prohens, has labelled it hypocritical for the PSOE and Més, opposition parties, to encourage participation in the protest. According to Sagreras, it was those formations that approved 115,000 tourist beds during the eight years of Francina Armengol's government.
The popular spokesperson recalled that the current government, in its three years in office, has not authorised any growth in tourist capacity. In statements to the media, he emphasised that "PSOE and Més have governed twelve of the last twenty years" and that the problem of overtourism is not new.
For his part, Iago Negueruela, socialist spokesperson and candidate for the mayoralty of Palma, has rejected the criticisms and defended his management. "There were no protests because we did not lie to the people. I myself imposed the tourist moratorium and was heavily attacked for it," he stated in an interview. Negueruela has promised that, if he reaches the mayoralty, he will revoke all existing vacation apartment licenses. "Airbnb must be banned in this city," he declared, referencing the experience of Barcelona.
The president of the Balearic Govern, Marga Prohens, expressed her understanding of the citizens' discontent, although she has blamed the previous left-wing government for a "completely uncontrolled" growth. "115,000 additional beds in eight years must be stated again and again; claiming that this problem only arose now is an insult to the intelligence of citizens," Prohens declared after an audience with King Felipe.
The Balearic government acknowledges that the limit has been reached. Vice President Antoni Costa has accepted the criticisms: "More measures could have been taken. We have reached the upper limit and cannot grow any further." However, he warned that drastically reducing tourism would affect employment, an argument shared by part of the business sector.
A taxi driver from Palma, Toni, expressed his opposition to the protest: "Tourism is essential in Mallorca. We have no other source of income. We should not chop it off with an axe, but find a way to regulate it." His words reflect the division that the tourism phenomenon generates on the island.
Last year, Mallorca set its historical record for visitors, with 13.6 million tourists. The figures fuel the debate about the territory's carrying capacity and the quality of life for residents, who see housing prices soar and public services collapse during peak season.
The organisers of the march have warned that mobilisations will continue if concrete measures are not adopted. Today's protest is the largest in recent years and has received support from dozens of neighbourhood, environmental, and union entities.
Authorities have recommended avoiding the centre of Palma during the afternoon and have set up alternative routes for traffic. The demonstration is expected to conclude without incidents, although the atmosphere is one of contained tension given the scale of the turnout.
The tourism crisis has become the focal point of political debate in the Balearics. While the left accuses the PP of doing nothing to curb growth, conservatives point to previous governments as responsible for the current situation. Citizens, meanwhile, demand urgent solutions for an island they feel is on the brink of collapse.
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