More than 10,000 people, according to the organisers, have flooded the centre of Palma called by the 'Menys Turisme, Més Vida' platform to demand a reduction in tourism and denounce the impact on housing and job insecurity.
A human tide has flooded the streets of central Palma this Saturday in what is considered the largest demonstration held to date against mass tourism in Mallorca. Organised by the 'Menys Turisme, Més Vida' platform, which brings together nearly a hundred entities, attendees marched along the route from Plaza de España to Ses Voltes to protest against an economic model that, they claim, is driving residents off the island.
The protest began shortly after 18:00, with Plaza de España already practically full, according to sources from the organisation. From there, the demonstrators advanced along Vía Roma, the Rambla, Calle Unión, the Born, and Antoni Maura, culminating at Ses Voltes, where a manifesto was read. The route, one of the longest in recent mobilisations, was lined with banners bearing slogans such as 'Less tourism, more life' and 'Stop touristification'. Among the attendees were representatives from PSIB and Més, parties that have shown their support for the event.
The platform estimated attendance at over 10,000 people, although police sources did not provide an official figure. What is indisputable is the massive turnout of citizens arriving from all points of the island. Numerous buses transported residents from towns in the Part Forana, such as Inca, Manacor, or Felanitx, who wanted to join the call. "It's not just a problem for Palma; it affects all of us Mallorcans," stated a spokesperson for the platform during the reading of the manifesto.
The context of the protest is marked by growing public outrage following the arrest of two young women accused of vandalising a real estate agency in Santa Maria. The image of the two women handcuffed as they were taken before a judge has sparked a wave of solidarity and acted as a catalyst for many people who usually do not mobilise to decide to take to the streets. "Repression will not silence us," chanted some protesters.
The platform's demands focus on three fundamental axes: the housing access crisis, job insecurity, and the loss of quality of life. According to data from the organisation, rental prices in Mallorca have increased by more than 40% in the last five years, while wages have barely grown by 5% in the same period. "We work in the tourism sector but cannot afford to live in our own land," lamented a young waiter from Calvià carrying a banner reading 'Dignified wages now'.
The demonstration proceeded without significant incidents, although traffic in central Palma was completely gridlocked for more than three hours. The Local Police established a diversion plan that affected the main access routes to the centre. Organisers have announced that this is just the first of a series of mobilisations they plan to maintain throughout the summer, coinciding with the peak tourist season. "We will not stop until real measures are taken," they warned.
The impact of mass tourism in Mallorca is a recurring debate in Balearic society. According to data from the Balearic Islands Statistics Institute, the community received more than 16 million tourists last year, a figure that doubles its resident population. The saturation of public services, pressure on the real estate market, and the degradation of natural spaces are some of the consequences that environmental and community groups have been denouncing for years.
The 'Menys Turisme, Més Vida' platform has called on citizens to continue mobilising and announced that the next gathering will take place on the last Saturday of July, also in Palma. Meanwhile, protesters began leaving the city centre after 21:00, leaving behind a trail of leaflets and the echo of slogans that, judging by the massive response, have only just begun to resonate.
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