Police clashed with protesters in Majorca on Sunday as more than 25,000 residents took to the streets against mass tourism and gentrification. Seven people were reported injured, two seriously, as crowds clashed with officers in Palma.
Protest Turns Violent
Protesters carried signs reading "save Majorca" and "tourists go home". The march, organized by the grassroots group Menys Turisme, Mes Vida (Less Tourism, More Life), saw clashes after police blocked the planned end point over safety concerns. Demonstrators jumped barriers, and police wielded batons. Bottles were allegedly thrown at officers after baton strikes, and police reportedly fired rubber bullets to control the crowd.
Housing Crisis and Overtourism
The group said in a social media post that residents are suffering "an unprecedented housing crisis and a progressive decline in living conditions". They declared that Mallorca has reached its ecological, territorial and social limits. According to official statistics cited by local media, the Balearic Islands' population rose by 280,000 to 1.25 million between 2005 and last year, while annual tourists more than doubled to over 19 million. Housing prices increased from €2,207 to €4,062 per square metre.
Mixed Local Reactions
Similar protests have occurred in other Spanish tourist hotspots. However, last year the Mallorca Hotel Business Federation launched a campaign thanking tourists and emphasizing tourism's importance to the islands.
