Shorouk Express
Several environmental and resident groups on the Spanish island of Mallorca have sent an open letter to tourists in four languages asking them not to visit because they are “the source” of the problems the island is experiencing.
“Mallorca is not the paradise they are selling you,” states the letter signed by SOS Residents, Menys turisme més vida, Gob, Gadma, Alternativa per Pollença, Brunzit and Amics de la Vall de Coanegra.
These seven organisations recalled that in the 1970s, Mallorca was known as ‘the island of calm,’ a situation that has changed, they point out, as in recent years the island has become a tourist destination which has been exploited “to unimaginable limits.”
The protest groups have denounced the fact that mass tourism has led to the deterioration of the Balearic island’s ecosystem, the overcrowding of public services, gentrification, and an excessive increase in the cost of living.
READ ALSO: Renewed calls for Mallorca to ban non-residents from buying property
They accuse hoteliers, politicians and investors of prioritising their economic interests over the wellbeing of residents.
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The groups go on to lament the problems suffered by the inhabitants of Mallorca due to tourism overcrowding, whilst slamming authorities and local institutions for continuing to promote tourism without considering the consequences for the local population.
READ ALSO: Taxes, bans and fines – The new mass tourism measures on Spain’s Balearics
“The local population is angry and we are no longer welcoming them (tourists) because they are destroying the land we love, and many residents are having to emigrate because the island is uninhabitable,” the groups said.
“It’s time to ask you not to come. We don’t need more tourists; in fact, you are the source of the problem,” the environmentalists stressed in the letter written in Catalan, Spanish, English and German.
They hope the forthright message will make visitors reflect on their impact on the living standards of locals as well as foster a debate about the need for a more sustainable and respectful tourism model in Mallorca.
2024 was the year Spain truly spoke out about the impact mass tourism was having on the life of residents, with numerous protests held in holiday hotspots such as the Balearic Islands, the Canaries, Málaga, Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia, Alicante and other cities.
READ MORE: ‘Our island isn’t for sale’ – Spain’s Mallorca protests against mass tourism again
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In truth, their grievances are as much about the country’s housing crisis and the rising cost of living as they were about mass tourism, as there is growing awareness that the two often go hand in hand, especially with regard to the steep rise in tourist apartments in residential buildings.
There is a growing sense that wealthier foreigners get to enjoy Spain more than struggling locals. In the case of Palma, Mallorca’s capital, the cost of living is proportionally the highest in the country according to a 2025 study.
Anti-tourism messages such as “tourist go home” or “f*ck Airbnb” have become increasingly common on walls and buildings in the form of graffiti, stickers or protest placards, but many Spaniards are aware that it’s not the fault of tourists per se, but rather a tourism model that’s out of control and has to be overhauled.
There are also plenty of locals who welcome tourism and value its importance for the Spanish economy, as it accounts for 13 percent of the country’s GDP, and are therefore opposed to the inflammatory anti-tourism messaging that’s become more prevalent recently.
Nevertheless, it seems highly likely that more anti-mass tourism protests will take place across the country as the busy summer season approaches.
READ ALSO: Is Spain’s Mallorca really ‘treating tourists like animals’?
