The Balearic government said this morning that it regretted the incidents that took place in the anti-mass tourism demonstration through the streets of Palma on Sunday. At the end of the protest about 100 young people went to bar terraces on the Borne and at the Plaza de las Tortugas in Palma and surrounded tourists and jeered at them for about half an hour. The police shielded the tourists.
"The Balearic government condemns and rejects the minority that insulted tourists," government spokesperson Toni Costa said.
He insisted that it was a minority, but reiterated that it was unacceptable for some participants to insult ‘tourists or residents’ who were sat peacefully on a terrace ‘having a drink, lunch or dinner’. ‘This type of behaviour by a minority is not acceptable,’ Costa reiterated.
Earlier on Sunday thousands of people marched through the streets of Palma this afternoon calling for an end to mass tourism and more cheaper housing in the latest protest against the holiday industry. Organisers got their target figure of 2,000 people who were filmed and recorded by a small army of representatives of the British and German media.
Similar protests were taking place across Europe today and the one in Palma was certainly vocal. The protesters were a mixture of people of all ages from across the island. There were even some foreign residents.
Their message was clear. Fewer tourists, more cheap housing, a ban on private jets and cruise ships. But there were also Palestinian flag and a group calling for independence for Mallorca. On the whole their placards were simple but the message was strong. Many were in English.
It must be said that it was a good humoured start to the march a typical Mallorcan folk group leading the way. The protest had been called by various associations who have united in their campaign against mass tourism.
So far the travel industry has said that the protests have not hit holiday bookings but there are signs that this summer season will not be as good as many had hoped. Alcudia has already raised the alarm saying that they had fewer hotel bookings and restaurant and bar takings were down by 20 percent.
"Your holidays, my misery," protesters chanted in the streets of Barcelona while holding up banners emblazoned with slogans such as "mass tourism kills the city" and "their greed brings us ruin".
Under the umbrella of the SET alliance - Sud d'Europa contra la Turistització, or Catalan for "Southern Europe against Overtourism" - protesters joined forces with groups in Portugal and Italy, arguing that uncontrolled tourism was sending housing prices soaring and forcing people out of their neighbourhoods. Barcelona, a city of 1.6 million, drew 26 million tourists last year.
Authorities in the north eastern Spanish city said around 600 people joined the demonstration there, some firing water pistols or setting off coloured smoke and putting stickers saying 'Neighbourhood self-defence, tourist go home' on shop windows and hotels.
Outside one hotel, an agitated worker confronted the protesters saying he was "only working" and was not the venue's owner. There were similar demonstrations in other parts of Spain including Ibiza, Malaga, San Sebastian and Granada.
Protests in Italy took place in cities including Genoa, Naples, Palermo, Milan and Venice, where locals oppose the construction of two hotels that will add around 1,500 new beds to the city, the organisers told Reuters.
In Barcelona, the city government said last year it would bar apartment rentals to tourists by 2028 to make the city more liveable for residents.
"I'm very tired of being a nuisance in my own city. The solution is to propose a radical decrease in the number of tourists in Barcelona and bet on another economic model that brings prosperity to the city," Eva Vilaseca, 38, told Reuters at Sunday's demonstration in Barcelona, dismissing the common counterargument that tourism brings jobs and prosperity.
tranq tranquerWorkers also come from France
But Monaco nationals have special protections and privileges on accommodation and jobs.
36k people live there.
But it’s Balearic people’s complaints about accommodation and low paid jobs.
It’s the government intervention principle that’s valid.
It’s taxation that offsets the disadvantage of tourists and really, really rich people to the indigenous population.
No, the problem is that the population keeps increasing to service the growing tourism industry. The hotels used to have accommodation for staff and at the end of the season the staff went home to their own region. Over the past 30 years the hotels have converted all their staff accommodation into tourist places and the seasonal staff have had to give up their homes to com and work here and pay for accommodation. When they find it, they don't leave. Why would they? No wonder that many indigenous peoples feel aggrieved. This is the Fault of the Hotels. The riches man in Mallorca? A hotelier. Who would have thought it! Don't blame "stupid Spanish". The Mallorquins clearly have a grievance. Surely it would be better to try to understand the issues and try to find a solution. Build build build cannot be the answer.
Enough treading softly. I´m tired of all the BS. It has to be said the spanish protesters are obviously clearly stupid. Not a brain cell amongst them. I live in Mallorca. The problem is not tourism. The problem is that for 50 years the spanish governments have not built enough social housing for the poor. Blaming tourists that contribute up to 20% or more of the economy and give employment to thousands of spaniards is ridiculous.
@DavidHolland I have come very late to this but must correct David Holland. ( early post below) Every morning an army of workers arrive in Monaco by train from Italy. At the end of the day they go home. That is because there is no affordable workers housing in Monaco, never mind what the rules may be for residential renting or ownership. It is how Monaco survives, they have something we don't, a huge labour market just over the border. Sorry David but your comparison is simply not valid.
Organ WelshmanI suppose you could be forgiven for assuming that "mainstream" tourism is defined by the English enclave tourist resort you *actually* reside in (Magaluf?).
And true, I don't go to Magaluf much (but do occasionally), but I used to live in calvia, so I know what it's about. I've also been in the tourism business - all over this island - for decades. How about you?
Just a suggestion, but it may be revealing for you to leave the safety of your little English enclave and explore around a bit, rather than just making assumptions based on your presumed superiority over those lowlife backpacking hippy eco-warrior yoga-brained foreigners you dream of. You might just discover that not only are they substantially more sophisticated than you in most ways (though you'd likely be oblivious to it), but also (quietly) have orders of magnitude more wealth than you do, "loadsamoney". Yes, even in the uncharted wilderness outside of Calvia. You ought to see some of the palaces these lowlifes live in or rent for their holidays - you know, out there in the outback where there's "nothing". You'd be jealous.
With regards to the protestors, all indications seem to suggest precisely what the government is saying: it's a minority that's getting extremely magnified press exaggeration. And ironically, there's precious little evidence that tourism is responsible for their inability to be here and have a decent paying career at the same time.
The same is true for a lot of places in the world. Even in England. Lots of young Brits leave the villages where they were born - to go to say, London to build a career. It's quite normal.
And the protests aren't in Magaluf. Why would they? That would be like protesting against deer in the forest.
Richard - that's nice to know. But aside from the authorities, I doubt anyone would care if you left. Some might celebrate it.
FredHi Fred.
I *am* home. How about you?
Do you hate it here as much as "loadsamoney" and Richard? Why don't you leave? It's so beneath you. Commies and all.
Good job you aren't a "commie" and can't even identify one. But then, nobody else can either, so you're not alone.
It must be said that it was a good humoured start to the march a typical Mallorcan folk group leading the way. The protest had been called by various associations who have united in their campaign against mass tourism.
Outside one hotel, an agitated worker confronted the protesters saying he was "only working" and was not the venue's owner. There were similar demonstrations in other parts of Spain including Ibiza, Malaga, San Sebastian and Granada.
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tranq tranquerWorkers also come from France But Monaco nationals have special protections and privileges on accommodation and jobs. 36k people live there. But it’s Balearic people’s complaints about accommodation and low paid jobs. It’s the government intervention principle that’s valid. It’s taxation that offsets the disadvantage of tourists and really, really rich people to the indigenous population.
LovedSollerBye, Felicia.
No, the problem is that the population keeps increasing to service the growing tourism industry. The hotels used to have accommodation for staff and at the end of the season the staff went home to their own region. Over the past 30 years the hotels have converted all their staff accommodation into tourist places and the seasonal staff have had to give up their homes to com and work here and pay for accommodation. When they find it, they don't leave. Why would they? No wonder that many indigenous peoples feel aggrieved. This is the Fault of the Hotels. The riches man in Mallorca? A hotelier. Who would have thought it! Don't blame "stupid Spanish". The Mallorquins clearly have a grievance. Surely it would be better to try to understand the issues and try to find a solution. Build build build cannot be the answer.
Enough treading softly. I´m tired of all the BS. It has to be said the spanish protesters are obviously clearly stupid. Not a brain cell amongst them. I live in Mallorca. The problem is not tourism. The problem is that for 50 years the spanish governments have not built enough social housing for the poor. Blaming tourists that contribute up to 20% or more of the economy and give employment to thousands of spaniards is ridiculous.
@DavidHolland I have come very late to this but must correct David Holland. ( early post below) Every morning an army of workers arrive in Monaco by train from Italy. At the end of the day they go home. That is because there is no affordable workers housing in Monaco, never mind what the rules may be for residential renting or ownership. It is how Monaco survives, they have something we don't, a huge labour market just over the border. Sorry David but your comparison is simply not valid.
Organ WelshmanI suppose you could be forgiven for assuming that "mainstream" tourism is defined by the English enclave tourist resort you *actually* reside in (Magaluf?). And true, I don't go to Magaluf much (but do occasionally), but I used to live in calvia, so I know what it's about. I've also been in the tourism business - all over this island - for decades. How about you? Just a suggestion, but it may be revealing for you to leave the safety of your little English enclave and explore around a bit, rather than just making assumptions based on your presumed superiority over those lowlife backpacking hippy eco-warrior yoga-brained foreigners you dream of. You might just discover that not only are they substantially more sophisticated than you in most ways (though you'd likely be oblivious to it), but also (quietly) have orders of magnitude more wealth than you do, "loadsamoney". Yes, even in the uncharted wilderness outside of Calvia. You ought to see some of the palaces these lowlifes live in or rent for their holidays - you know, out there in the outback where there's "nothing". You'd be jealous. With regards to the protestors, all indications seem to suggest precisely what the government is saying: it's a minority that's getting extremely magnified press exaggeration. And ironically, there's precious little evidence that tourism is responsible for their inability to be here and have a decent paying career at the same time. The same is true for a lot of places in the world. Even in England. Lots of young Brits leave the villages where they were born - to go to say, London to build a career. It's quite normal. And the protests aren't in Magaluf. Why would they? That would be like protesting against deer in the forest. Richard - that's nice to know. But aside from the authorities, I doubt anyone would care if you left. Some might celebrate it.
Hang on Morgan, I love it here (Majorca). Why do you think I have overstayed my welcome ? The only people who want me to leave are the police.
FredHi Fred. I *am* home. How about you? Do you hate it here as much as "loadsamoney" and Richard? Why don't you leave? It's so beneath you. Commies and all. Good job you aren't a "commie" and can't even identify one. But then, nobody else can either, so you're not alone.
Morgan WilliamsFred doesn't like you, so you must be a god damn commie as well!
Morgan Williams , Go Home as well !