Anti-tourist protesters take over sightseeing coach in Majorca with smoke bombs ahead of mass march tomorrow

Scottish Sun

a day ago

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SPANISH protesters held up a sightseeing bus in Palma de Majorca ahead of a major anti-tourism demonstration tomorrow.
The goal of the act was to 'denounce the touristification and commercialisation' of the popular Spanish island, the group said.
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Protesters held up a sightseeing bus in the Majorcan capital of Palma
Credit: @menysturisme / instagram
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Campaigners from 'Menys Turisme, Més Vida' (Less Tourism, More Life) held up signs reading 'For The Right To A Dignified Life'
Credit: @menysturisme / instagram
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Yellow smoke flares were seen in the protest
Credit: @menysturisme / instagram
Campaigners from 'Menys Turisme, Més Vida' (Less Tourism, More Life) staged the protest in the Majorcan capital city of Palma.
They halted the bus, climbing onto it and unfurling a banner calling for an end to mass tourism.
In a video shared on its social media account, the group said it is 'tired' and 'ready to break the tourism status quo'.
It believes it's urgent to change the model to one that prioritises the well-being of the local population over the interests of the tourism industry.
The group called on locals to join Sunday's demo at 6pm in Plaza de España.
Thousands across the Balearic Islands - along with other parts of Spain - are expected to take part tomorrow.
They are demanding the right to better housing, decent work, environmental sustainability and quality public services.
It comes as Spain's first major overtourism protests of the year kicked off in April after thousands of people across 40 cities took to the streets.
Majorca, one of the centres of the protests last year, hosted the first mass protests of the year.
Nearly 40 organisations from the Balearic Islands are believed to have marched in Palma.
Thousands of anti-tourist protesters flood Spanish hols hotspots & call on mob to super glue holiday rental locks
The slogan of the protest was 'Let's end the housing crisis'.
One anti-AirBnb campaign urged Majorcan locals to vandalise key boxes outside rentals by supergluing their locks.
Later, in May, thousands flooded the streets of the Canary Islands in Spain's third wave of protests against overtourism this year.
Demonstrations took place across the Spanish archipelago's islands, including Tenerife, Lanzarote, Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura.
The slogan of the march was: "The Canary Islands are not for sale, they are loved and defended."
Other banners read: "The Canary Islands have a limit and so does our patience" and "Enough is enough!"
The anti-mass tourism movement in Spain began gaining serious momentum in April 2024.
Locals have been demanding an end to the problems associated with mass tourism, including pollution, traffic chaos and the lack of affordable housing.
What is overtourism?
Overtourism refers to the phenomenon where a destination experiences a volume of tourists that exceeds its manageable capacity
The term is often used to describe the negative consequences of mass tourism, which includes overcrowding and environmental issues
As a result, popular destinations have become less enjoyable for both visitors and locals
Local communities, in particular, bear the brunt, facing rising costs and a depletion of resources
In response, national and local governments have started to implement measures to reduce overtourism
Some solutions include: Safeguarding historical and heritage sites
Promoting off-peak travel
Tourism caps and regulations
Promoting lesser-known destinations