Demonstration against Mass Tourism Regains Record Numbers on Mallorca Once More - Demonstration continuation in Mallorca against widespread tourism
Laying Down the Gauntlet: Mallorcan Residents' Outcry Against Alarming Tourism Boom
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A sizable crowd, estimated at around 8,000 strong, asserted their dissent on the streets of sun-kissed Mallorca, Spain, yet again. Waves of protesters, now including retirees and families with children, marching from Plaça d'Espanya to the busy Passeig del Born, voiced their grievances through chants of "Mallorca no destrueix-la!" ("Who loves Mallorca doesn’t destroy it!"). This clamor for change gained momentum under the banner of the united initiative "Menys turisme, més vida" ("Less tourism, more life").
As Jaume Pujol, the initiative's spokesperson, asserted to Diario de Mallorca, "Enough is enough! We must set limits on tourism." Protesters have been vocal about their demands, including:
- Tourist Cap: A cap on visitor numbers to prevent overexploitation of local resources and secure residents' quality of life.
- Cruise Ship Ban: With the massive cruise ships encroaching on idyllic dockfronts, demanding a moratorium on sailing titans.
- Curb on Short-Term Rentals: A crackdown on short-term rental properties, addressing the housing crisis in which locals find themselves priced out of their homes.
After months of fervent debate, there has been little change, according to Pujol, who remains disheartened by the regional government's reluctance to engage meaningfully. "Their only effort has been engaging in discourse about sustainability, which amounts to nothing," he criticized.
Despite the employment benefits of tourism, the deluge of visitors has taken a heavy toll on the Balearic Islands. The archipelago, including Mallorca, Ibiza, and other isles, is projected to surpass the 20 million visitor milestone this year for the first time. This figure represents a million more visitors than the previous year, 2023.
Such tumultuous growth is even more evident on Mallorca, with a native population of fewer than 1 million, which welcomed 13.5 million tourists in 2022. Notably, there was a nine percent rise in German tourists, reaching a record-breaking 5 million.
Tourism's financial traction isn't to be dismissed, as it contributed €22.4 billion to the islands' economy in 2022, marking an astounding 12 percent increase over the previous year. Tourism accounted for over 40 percent of Mallorca's total income, earning the industry ample kudos. However, the affluent influx is causing tension among native islanders.
Sparking solidarity, anti-tourism protests reverberated across other Spanish cities on Sunday, including grassroots movements in Barcelona, where approximately 600 demonstrators took part, adorned with water guns in a symbolic stance against the degradation.
The crescendo of gripes that prompted these protests revolve around:
- Housing Crisis: The surge of foreign property purchases and short-term rentals exacerbates the housing crisis, prising homes from the grasp of many local residents.
- Environmental Degradation: Excessive tourism invariably disparages the environment, causing pollution, higher carbon emissions, and stress on finite resources.
- Eroding Quality of Life: The focus on tourism overshadows residents' needs and marginalizes them, a phenomenon sometimes referred to as "touristification."
- Outsourcing of Businesses: The influx of colossal travel corporations displaces local businesses, while resources and attention are diverted away from the public sector.
The underlying sentiment fuelling these disquieting demonstrations is the desire to revive and protect the souls of the local communities, ensuring Mallorca remains a thriving home for its inhabitants instead of becoming inundated by overzealous tourists.
Amidst the call for change, protesters in Mallorca advocated for a community policy to cap visitor numbers and maintain a balanced lifestyle.In addition, they proposed an employment policy to curb short-term rentals, aiming to address the housing crisis and secure a home-and-garden environment for the locals.*Moreover, there were demands for a travel policy to ban cruise ships, preserving the idyllic beauty of the island and promoting a sustainable lifestyle.
