The organization “Less Tourism, More Life” called for the protest in the island’s capital, Palma. Protests are also planned on other Balearic Islands.
Only eight weeks ago, around 10,000 people took to the streets in Palma under the slogan “Let’s say basta!” and “Mallorca is not for sale!”, according to police. The organizers spoke of 25,000 participants. There have also been demonstrations against the year-on-year increase in tourism in other Spanish tourist metropolises such as Barcelona and Malaga, as well as on the Canary Islands.
Tourism is vital for Mallorca’s survival. The industry accounts for 45 percent of the island’s economic output. But many complain that only a minority benefits, while the vast majority get poorly paid jobs and suffer from a housing shortage, traffic jams, noise and dirt.