Balearic Islands brace for another record amidst resident protests
21 July 2024 18:44
According to the National Institute of Statistics of Spain, 14.4 million foreign tourists visited the Balearic Islands last year. This year, even more tourists are expected, possibly reaching 20 million. The Spanish islands are "going for a record," but residents are protesting.
The number of foreign visitors to the Balearic Islands (Ibiza, Mallorca, and Menorca) increases yearly. 2023 there was a 9.1 percent increase compared to 2022, and tourists spent 16.4 percent more money on the islands.
The Spanish National Institute of Statistics reported that Spain welcomed 85.1 million foreign tourists last year, the highest ever. Of these, 14.4 million visited the Balearic Islands, mainly Mallorca.
According to the BBC portal, this record is likely to be broken this year. On the Balearic Islands, this number may reach 20 million.
Good or bad tourist? Spain's summer siege
In recent years, the debate has intensified in Spain about whether millions of tourists bring more problems than benefits.
As the BBC notes, anger among many residents has reached a new level this year. This was evident in the protest organized in Barcelona at the beginning of July.
More than 20,000 people went to the streets to protest against mass tourism. The demonstration was the result of an initiative by over 100 civic organizations.
They've had enough of tourists. Mallorca also says "no"
Increasingly, the media is highlighting calls from activists who draw attention to the costs of mass tourism that the residents of Mallorca have to bear.
Foreigners buy houses and apartments here or rent them for most of the summer, disrupting the market and driving up prices. Regular people who live and work here cannot afford to rent, says 25-year-old Pere from a movement called "Menys Turisme, Més Vida," which translates to "Less Tourism, More Life." This weekend, activists and residents again took to the streets to protest against mass tourism.
Other social activists argue that it is a myth that Mallorca needs constantly growing tourism to thrive.
"The reality is that many residents are preparing to leave permanently because they can no longer afford to stay," they say.
Mass tourism is not only a Spanish problem. Many European countries are grappling with it. Some have already started introducing certain restrictions. In Venice, day-trippers are forced to pay a special tax. Similar solutions have also appeared in some Swiss villages, which are overwhelmed by tens of thousands of people due to their beauty.
Source: BBC/Das Inselradio Mallorca/WP
