We represent various groups of residents in Mallorca who are deeply concerned about the overwhelming saturation our island is experiencing.
The recent statements made by local politicians and hoteliers, with great irresponsibility, deny this evident reality and promote the arrival of even more tourists from both international and national markets.
We are facing the worst summer in the history of Mallorca. All predictions indicate that in 2025, all historical records of visitors and overcrowding will be shattered once again, creating an emergency situation in a fragile environment that is already uninhabitable. Therefore, on behalf of the undersigned groups, we present a letter that we believe expresses the feelings of a large portion of the Mallorcan population, who are not being heard.
We ask that, if you deem it appropriate, you help spread this message so that the true situation of our island is known, appealing to the individual responsibility of visitors, since this responsibility is non-existent within our governors and the local tourist lobby, which is solely driven by economic interests.
Thank you very much for your attention and help.
Open letter to tourists
Dear tourists,
It is well known that Mallorca is an island recognised worldwide. Historically, we have been a welcoming land, strategically located in the Mediterranean Sea. Mallorca has a long tradition of tourism. We have made history when it comes to tourism. Until recently, this was a source of pride, but right now it has become our biggest problem.
In the 1970s, Mallorca was called the "island of calm." Obviously, we are talking about a not so distant past, where the coexistence between tourists and residents maintained a balance. These were other times, when tourists spent their vacations on Mallorca, a sector of the population worked for them, but there were also other productive sectors (industry, agriculture...). The residents lived in peace and harmony because everyone occupied their "place" in a fragile and wonderful environment.
Things have changed, and Mallorca has become a top tourist destination. The island has been exploited to unimaginable limits, leading to the collapse we are now suffering. The money generated by the tourism industry has attracted people from all over the world who trade with our island. The greed and avarice of hoteliers, politicians, real estate investors, and all kinds of "parasites" have brought us to an emergency situation.
There is no need to list the problems that we residents suffer from, they are well known: environmental and ecosystem deterioration, infrastructure issues, overwhelmed public services, transportation problems, loss of quality of life, gentrification, disproportionate increases in the cost of living, and a total lack of access to housing for the local population.
This had never happened before in Mallorca, and civil society has taken to the streets. We have mobilized to demand that our politicians regulate this situation and prevent a major disaster.
However, surprisingly, instead of listening and taking action to reverse this crisis, they deny reality and continue to promote tourism in established markets, such as the Berlin Fair, while also creating new ones.
Their only goal is to increase the number of visitors and generate more money for a minority, on an island that is already completely oversaturated.
Some figures to understand the magnitude of the problem, based on published data:
● If Mallorca were an independent state, it would be the second in absolute growth over the last 40 years, with an 84% population increase, only surpassed by India with 91%.
● In the last 25 years, while the number of tourists has increased by more than 30%, the Balearic Islands have plummeted in the European per capita income ranking, falling from position 48 to 148. (More tourism no longer generates wealth but poverty).
● Every year, for every island resident, we receive 15 tourists (meaning human pressure on our land is multiplied by 15).
● This is the third consecutive year of record-breaking visitor numbers in Mallorca. In 2024, Palma de Mallorca Airport handled over 33 million passengers, a 7% increase from 2023. In 2025, tourist numbers are expected to increase by 6%. Cruise ship tourism in the Port of Palma is also expected to rise, reaching 1.8 million passengers.
It is insulting that our politicians use the concept of “sustainable” every time they talk about tourism in Mallorca because nothing could be further from the truth.
If we look up “sustainable” in the dictionary, when applied to ecology or economics, it refers to something that can be maintained over a long period without depleting resources or causing serious damage to the environment. “Sustainability” consists of meeting present needs without compromising the needs of future generations, a development model that is compatible with environmental preservation, avoiding the degradation of the surroundings caused by human activity.
Well, what is being done to our land is exactly the opposite.
Politicians tell us they want to promote the deseasonalization of the tourism industry. This would mean reducing the number of tourists during peak season by spreading them throughout the year. However, what is actually happening is exactly the opposite: maintaining 100% occupancy during peak season while also filling Mallorca with tourists for the rest of the year.
Mallorca is not the paradise they are selling you. The local population is angry and no longer hospitable because the land we love it’s being destroyed and many of us have to leave the island because it is uninhabitable. Put yourselves in our place!
It is time to take a stand. Our leaders do not listen to us, so we, the residents, ask you: DO NOT COME. We do not need more tourists; in fact, you are the source of our problem.
Locals say:
ENOUGH. STAY HOME!
ORGANIZATIONS:
- SOS RESIDENTS
- MENYS TURISME MÉS VIDA
- GOB
- GADMA. GRUP AMICS DE LA TERRA DE MALLORCA
- ALTERNATIVA PER POLLENÇA
- BRUNZIT
- AMICS DE LA VALL DE COANEGRA
What do you think? Send us your views to jmoore@majorcadailybulletin.es
20 comments
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AngieAngie, you don't understand because you don't live here. Have you ever been treated rudely, shouted at, to use a favourite of the young - disrespected - when here on holiday. I very much doubt it. I suggest you are reacting to media reporting, not actual occurrence. Don't get me wrong, I respect you ( there it is again) but you have to live here to fully appreciate the travails of mass tourism, which in our case is added to by a massive increase in immigration from overseas - sound familiar ?
Have been coming to majorca for many years on cycling trips with friends and club ,we do not come in peak season , we hire bikes from local shops, we spend most days eating in local restaurants and cafes, but am seriously thinking of not returning and finding some where were we are welcome,. thanks p eccles
Victor MaitlandWith the Bernabéu having a capacity of 78297, I doubt even with 6 or 7 cruise ships a day would fill this stadium. I can see where you are coming from, but over 70000 a day may feel like it around the port and Palma. The trouble is cruising has become more and more popular for the Mediterranean, and Palma coming in as part of the interninary. Just limit the amount of cruise ships, or the amount of beds allowed to dock at any one time. Cruise ships are just getting larger and larger now with 5000 plus now compared to say 30 to 40 years ago 2000 passengers plus crew for a larger ship. The more the passengers and size, the more the greedy port revenue.
Zoltan TeglasI don't understand why you are taking this out on tourists. I haven't done anything offensive. I have been coming to Majorca since 1984, not every year but fairly frequently. I remember family friendly customer service. I've always stayed in hotels and eaten in local restaurants. I have loved this island but I'm not coming were I'm not wanted. I assume this applies to all tourists not just the UK? It's your local greedy governments who are to blame. They grant planning permission for hotels and villas, changes of residential occupancy.,second homes etc. They know how many tourists will arrive to plan accordingly but did they ever limit this, as far as I'm aware no. The money was too good. This issue if locals being priced out of the housing market by tourism and second homes happens in lots of counties the UK included Areas like the Lake District ,Cornwall, etc. I don't appreciate being treated in this manner. My advice is to force out the elected officials and vote in ones that represent what the local people want. They are the true villains of the case. Go protest at their doors. It's they who don't want to lose power or the big money that tourism brings
I don't understand why you are taking this out on tourists. I haven't done anything offensive. I have been coming to Majorca since 1984, not every year but fairly frequently. I remember family friendly customer service. I've always stayed in hotels and eaten in local restaurants. I have loved this island but I'm not coming were I'm not wanted. I assume this applies to all tourists not just the UK? It's your local greedy governments who are to blame. They grant planning permission for hotels and villas, changes of residential occupancy.,second homes etc. They know how many tourists will arrive to plan accordingly but did they ever limit this, as far as I'm aware no. The money was too good. This issue if locals being priced out of the housing market by tourism and second homes happens in lots of counties the UK included Areas like the Lake District ,Cornwall, etc. I don't appreciate being treated in this manner. My advice is to force out the elected officials and vote in ones that represent what the local people want. They are the true villains of the case. Go protest at their doors. It's they who don't want to lose power or the big money that tourism brings.
Victor MaitlandWinner!
I do feel for those being priced out of their towns and villages, however developers and previous generations who sold the land to them are the cause of this not tourists, where did this money go? Sailing 2 or 3 cruise ships with the capacity of the Bernabéu every day into Palma leading to the chaos is also contributing. I agree the island is certainly busier now than ever but then again so is everywhere these days, same goes for increased cost of living, tell me somewhere in the world that this doesn't exist? Perhaps the answer to sustainability is to ban modernity completely, cars, telephones, gas bottles, AC and cold drinks. Travel everywhere by mules and that might solve some of the issues if it takes 3 days to get from the airport to a non airconditioned resort. So letter writers, if its not 'no tourists' but 'less tourists' then what is the magic number that a bouncer at PMI with a clicker should get to before everyone is turned back? Please focus your efforts on your politicians to stop further development not harass tourists, and those who have worked hard and wish to spend their few remaining days somewhere who do contribute to the proportion of the island who do rely on visitors to survive. Surely part of the action needs to be if developers or land owners to contribute back to the island, regenerate ‘waste’ land and fields, pay their fair wages, build a proportion of new developments as affordable housing as part of their plans for the inevitable staff they need to operate? Now MDB, can we get back to stories on celebs I’ve never heard of saying they named their goldfish after a street in Soller?
Zoltan TeglasYou can't be half-pregnant. Mallorca is either in the tourism business or it's not. No half measures. Now, you can re-position the island and take it more up-market by forcibly closing cheap hotels, hostels, Airbnbs etc and raising prices but that's the proverbial tanker turnaround; it takes a long time to achieve and comes with a huge cost in compensating the businesses to close that no longer meet the new positioning.
As has been said elsewhere - No one in their right mind is saying that they want NO tourists. They want LESS tourists. If this letter and the protests achieve a reduction of around 10% then that would be a good thing. And if not, what then? Shall we just carry on increasing numbers, and building more and more hotels? Can you imagine Mallorca in 20 years time, with 25 million tourists a year, and a population of 1.5 million, as that is what we are heading towards
Morgan WilliamsI recognise your consistent disdain for some of the UK press (which I share) but this is being reported in every newspaper and media outlet and for good reason - it is news and anyone thinking of holidaying in Mallorca has a right to know. The British press are not saying ‘you are not welcome in Mallorca’, the Mallorquins are. Who wants to go somewhere on holiday where you are not welcome? The message from Mallorca is clear.