Mallorca is bracing for a second anti-tourism protest this Saturday, August 8, in the popular town of Sóller, following a July 25 march in Palma that drew over 30,000 demonstrators and ended with police firing rubber bullets. The grassroots collective Menys Turisme, Mes Vida (Less Tourism, More Life) has called for a 'new mobilisation against tourism' via Instagram, with businesses along the route instructed to remove terraces, market stalls, and displays.
Protest Details and Local Impact
The demonstration will affect crowded areas including Carrer de sa Lluna, Plaça d’Espanya, and Plaça del Mercat. Between 10am and 2pm, no objects will be permitted on public streets within the demonstration area, and residents along the route must remove parked vehicles. While outdoor spaces will be off-limits, businesses may operate indoors. According to the Majorca Daily Bulletin, some traders requested a route change to reduce disruption, but the request was rejected.
Timing and Eclipse Concerns
The protest comes as Mallorca prepares for a total solar eclipse on Wednesday, August 12, with the Balearic Islands expected to offer prime viewing. Experts warn of 'pandemonium' as tourists and residents gather, with peak occupancy predicted—around 400,000 foreign tourists on the night. Overtourism protests have become common across Europe, with previous demonstrations in Mallorca and Barcelona. Demonstrators and experts agree that holidaymakers are not the problem; instead, they target those profiting from tourism, such as housing speculators and exploitative employers.
Rising Tensions and Statistics
Between 2005 and 2025, the Balearic Islands' population grew by 280,000 to 1.25 million, while annual tourists increased by 7.5 million to over 19 million. Airport passengers in Palma rose from 21.2 million to 33.8 million, and housing prices surged from €2,207 to €4,062 per square metre, according to the Majorca Daily Bulletin. In a pre-July protest declaration, Menys Turisme, Mes Vida criticised the government for prioritising tourism while residents face an unprecedented housing crisis and declining living conditions. The group stated that demands have gone unheard and that Mallorca has reached its ecological, territorial, and social limits.
Clashes During July Protest
While July's march was mostly peaceful, a small group clashed with police at the end. Tensions arose when protestors tried to gather at Ses Voltes plaza near Palma's cathedral, where the manifesto was to be read, but police crowd control blocked access. As the group moved to Parc de la Mar, officers with shields and rubber bullet guns positioned themselves. Some protestors chanted 'I’d be ashamed to be a police officer' and 'Out with the occupying forces'. A small group threw plastic bottles, prompting police to fire around twenty rubber bullets and conduct baton charges. Paramedics treated eight people, two of whom were hospitalised with minor injuries.
