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Date Published: 19/03/2025

Mallorca's anti-tourism activists plan renewed beach occupations this summer

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Local groups intensify protests against mass tourism, while British visitors push back

Mallorca's anti-tourism activists plan renewed beach occupations this summer

Anti-tourism activists in Mallorca are planning to "occupy" beaches again this summer in an effort to deter British holidaymakers. The campaign follows last year's protests, where demonstrators placed fake warning signs on beaches, falsely claiming they were closed due to environmental hazards, jellyfish infestations or dangerous conditions.

This year, the protests are set to escalate. The group Menys Turisme Més Vida ("Less Tourism, More Life") has already barricaded a beach in Ibiza with boulders and now vows to step up efforts in other tourist hotspots. Spokesperson Pere Joan confirmed, “We hope to do the same and occupy the beaches in places that have a mass of tourists".

Activists argue that mass tourism is making life unaffordable for locals, worsening environmental problems and straining resources such as water and housing. They are demanding stricter rules on foreign property purchases, a tax on empty homes and greater regulation of short-term holiday lets. Last year, in addition to beach occupations, they also erected unauthorised signs warning tourists to stay away from certain areas, a tactic that caused confusion and outrage among visitors.

Their message to visitors is blunt. In an open letter circulated by various protest groups, activists told tourists: "We do not need more tourists; in fact, you are the source of our problem. DO NOT COME."

However, not everyone agrees with the anti-tourism stance. Many British visitors argue that Mallorca’s economy depends on tourism, and discouraging holidaymakers could harm local businesses. A long-time British holidaymaker who owns a villa on the island said, "It's sad British people are no longer welcome, even though over the years we've ploughed a lot into the island’s economy."

Another Brit expressed frustration at the hostility towards tourists, commenting, "The inhabitants there ought to stop and think what will happen to their economy when people like us stop going. What else do they have apart from sun, sand, and places to visit? They need the economy from tourism to survive!"

Others, however, were less sympathetic. One visitor said they had no plans to return, claiming Mallorca had become "a money-making tourist trap" with "overpriced food and drink" and "surly waiters."

As the summer season approaches, tensions are rising. With activists planning further demonstrations and visitors debating whether to return, Mallorca finds itself once again at the heart of the ongoing debate over mass tourism.

Image: Archive

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