At least 10,000 people demonstrated on Mallorca against mass tourism and the housing shortage on the holiday island. The rally was also influenced by the restaurant collapse on Thursday.
Thousands of people protested against mass tourism on Mallorca. Under the slogan “Let’s say basta!” people gathered in the center of the island’s capital Palma on Saturday evening. The police spoke of 10,000 demonstrators.
The number of participants far exceeded expectations, wrote the newspaper Diario de Mallorca. People came from all parts of the island, it said. Another slogan of the protest was “Mallorca is not for sale!”.
Broad alliance against “destruction” of the holiday island
The rally was called by the organization “Banc de Temps de Sencelles”, which blames the ever-increasing number of visitors and vacation homes for the housing shortage on Mallorca and for the “destruction” of the Spanish Mediterranean island.
The demonstrators, including many families with children, schoolchildren and students as well as pensioners, chanted slogans such as “Those who love Mallorca do not destroy it” as they marched along the Passeig del Born promenade. There were also many posters with slogans such as “If they deny us a roof, they deny us a future”.
Trade unions, environmental groups and various citizens’ initiatives joined the protest march.
Tourism important for Mallorca
The rally was held in response to the restaurant collapse on Thursday evening in the island’s capital, Palma de Mallorca. Four people died in the accident, including two young women from Germany.
Residents of Playa de Palma, which is mainly visited by German tourists, are convinced that many of the area’s buildings are not suitable for mass tourism.
Tourism is essential for the island’s economy. The industry accounts for 45 percent of Mallorca’s economic output. But there is now hardly anyone who questions the need to limit the number of visitors.