General
Mass tourism in Spain: drowning the Balearic Islands?
A wave of protest against the negative impact of mass tourism is sweeping over Spain’s most popular holiday hotspots. Euronews reporter Valérie Gauriat travelled to Majorca, the biggest of the Balearic Islands, to hear from residents who feel their future is under threat.
“Go home!”, cries out a man in swimming togs, frantically waving at a group of bewildered tourists trying to access the Caló des Moro, one of Majorca’s most famous and picturesque beaches. He is one of the dozens of residents who had come early that Sunday to occupy the site, in protest againsst the “massification” of tourism, which they say has “devastating effects” on their island, and their lives.
“We have cruises [cruise ships] every day with thousands of people. We have a flight every minute! It’s cars, it’s pollution. Beaches, restaurants are full of the streets are full of people! We’re fed up!” exclaims Joana Maria Estrany Vallespir,** from “SOS Residents”, a protest collective.
“TOURISM IS KILLING US”
“In one day, up to one million people come here! It’s unbearable!” storms Sara, a young protester. “They’re erasing our identity, they’re pushing us out, because they bought everything! They say Majorca lives off tourism? No, tourism lives off us, and it’s killing us!”
Majorca, the largest of the archipelago, has a population of just under a million. It expects to host some 20 million visitors this year.
