Anti-tourism protests sweep Majorca: Are British holidaymakers facing a summer of disruption?

Thousands of locals took to the streets of Majorca on Sunday to protest against over-tourism our Europe Editor James Mates has the details.

Brits love going abroad, but in recent years many of our favourite holiday destinations have become unhappy with the wave of tourists coming to their homes every summer.

A slew of anti-tourism protests have taken place in Spain in recent months.

Tourism represents nearly 12% of Spain’s economy, but locals have started pressuring governments to put measures in place to reduce the number of visitors.

The number of tourists visiting the country increased by almost 20% between 2022 and 2023, with the hotspots being in Catalonia, the Balearics, and the Canary Islands.

Thousands demonstrated in Majorca on Sunday in the second major protest of its kind this year, with more than 10,000 people on the streets in the capital of Palma de Mallorca to demonstrate against alleged tourist overcrowding.

Those behind the march claimed mass tourism was bringing a drop in wages, a loss in quality of life due to traffic jams and crowded beaches, noise, and a rise in housing prices and rental costs.

Organisers Menos Turismo, Más Vida (Less Tourism, More Life) hoped the event would be "a turning point, a blow on the table, and the beginning of actions and mobilisations on the four islands, not just in Mallorca, which will extend beyond the summer".

The group also said "a summer full of actions awaits us" indicating more action was planned.

This comes as the UK border force launched a fresh campaign towards young people from Britain to warn them of risks of exploitation in bars and clubs and the Balearic Islands.

The protests in Majorca are just the latest example of unrest among the locals of tourist hotspots, particularly in the Mediterranean.

But amid the peak of British summer holiday season, what other hotspots are voicing frustrations over tourism, and are more demonstrations planned? ITV News explains.

Barcelona

Anti-tourism protests in Barcelona earlier in July saw locals squirting water guns at tourists, waving placards saying "tourists go home", and setting up pretend cordons around popular locations.

Around 3,000 people attended a march along the popular waterfront district of the Catalonian capital, with their main complaint focused on the dramatic increase in rents the city has seen in recent years.

In an interview with El Pais, the left-wing mayor of Barcelona Jaume Collboni said on Sunday he will to raise the tourist tax for those arriving on cruises who spend less than 12 hours in the city.

Many blame the growing number of Airbnbs in the city for restricting the rental market with rents going up almost 20% in a year.

Earlier this year, Collboni announced all short-term lets will be phased out by 2028, effectively ending the Airbnb market in the city.

Tenerife

In April in Tenerife - the largest of the Canary Islands - protesters staged a hunger strike as part of a wider campaign demanding the government tackle the effects of excess tourism in the region.

Protest group Canarias Se Agota (translated as The Canaries Have Had Enough) said the "tourist monoculture" on the island "squeezes natural resources, destroys the territorym and deteriorates the quality of life of the local population".

Friends of Nature of Tenerife (ATAN) have pledged to hold more demonstrations this summer, claiming their complaints voiced in April's protests have not been listened to.

They are demanding more is done to limit the effects of tourism on the lives of locals and the local environment of the islands.

A statement from the group published in July said: "We have decided to take to the streets again.

"This time we will take to the streets in the very centre of this development model: in the main tourist areas."

They have promised to protest in tourist areas like the Playa de Las Americas, a place popular with British holidaymakers.

Ibiza

Similar protests were held in the Ibiza in May, where locals are fed up with the party atmosphere on the island.

A group called Prou Eivissa (Enough Ibiza) said they were not against British visitors, but opposed the "type of tourism" their island attracted.

The government of the Balearic Islands - which includes Ibiza, Majorca and Menorca - have already begun clamping down on some partying excess.

They introduced laws banning alcohol sales on the islands between 9.30pm and 8am, and people caught drinking in unauthorised areas will face a penalty fine of up to 1,500 Euros (£1,260).

Greece

Greece and its islands, another popular Mediterranean destination for British holidaymakers, have seen campaign groups raising concerns about the impact of mass tourism.

Sustainable Cyclades has called on authorities to immediately restrict the building of new hotels and villas in islands such as Santorini, Mykonos and Ios.

The organisations also proposed a "drastic" restriction in the construction of swimming pools, arguing the islands are "plagued by drought and water scarcity".

This follows a move by Greek economy minister Kostis Hatzidakis to limit the number of pay-to-use sunbeds allowed on public beaches, and the use of drones to help officials enforce restrictions on numbers.

Italy

Officials in Venice recently announced a trial - that charged day trippers five Euros - generated 2.4m euros (£2.02m) in revenue.

They indicated the pilot would be extended next year, and doubled to 10 Euros at least on some days - but did not make any immediate announcements.

In Venice's case, recent protests have been against the anti-tourist measures, with activists concerned the measure could dissuade visitors to the city.

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