Balearic Islands restrict tourist access during August 12 solar eclipse

The Balearic regional government announced that the Serra de Tramuntana mountain trail, a 90‑km UNESCO World Heritage site spanning 20 municipalities on Mallorca, will be closed to the public from 15:00 to 21:00 on 12 August when a total solar eclipse occurs. The decision, prompted by a request from parliamentarian Luis Apestegui, aims to prevent overcrowding, forest‑fire risk and accidents as the archipelago expects around two million visitors that day – a sharp increase on the usual 1.2 million summer tourists. Hotels reported a 19 % rise in bookings for the eclipse week compared with the previous year, and local officials warned that the single‑day surge could expose the chronic congestion the islands face.

The Vice President of the Balearic Government, Antonija Maria Estareljas, emphasised that the eclipse coincides with the peak of the tourist season, and the platform “Less Tourism, More Life”, representing up to 80 local groups, called for protests on 26 July to highlight the dangers of mass crowds on the island.