Tourism protests intensify in Ibiza and Mallorca

Protests against mass tourism have intensified in the Balearic Islands, with activists in both Ibiza and Mallorca calling for changes to the current tourism model.

In Ibiza, the Associació Joves d’Eivissa (AJE) organized a demonstration at Cala Saladeta beach. Approximately one hundred participants advocated for tourism ‘degrowth,’ stating that the island has reached its limit. This protest occurs despite recent measures aimed at curbing overcrowding, such as vehicle limitations and crackdowns on tourist apartments, which have reportedly led to lower visitor numbers this season compared to previous years.

In Mallorca, a large-scale demonstration involving approximately 1,000 people took place, organized with support from GOB and Terraferida. Participants formed a ‘human chain’ of chairs stretching from Plaza de España to the Consolat de Mar. The movement has gained visibility through the activist ‘Madò Farta,’ who uses a skull mask and traditional Mallorcan attire to symbolize the threat that current tourism models pose to local culture and way of life.