Spain is considering new “restrictions” on tourists to tackle overcrowding in popular resort areas, with the president of the Balearic Islands government saying the current rate of growth in tourism numbers is “not only unsustainable, but also not conducive to the well-being of our people”.
Protests have taken place across Spain in recent months calling for stricter controls on the numbers of holidaymakers who visit the country each summer, which demonstrators say has resulted in overcrowded beaches, soaring rents, job uncertainty and damage to the natural environment.
Balearic Islands President Margareta Progens said on Thursday that the government “has been forced to discuss restrictions and containment” as tourist numbers there are said to be approaching 20 million a year. She made clear that the changes were “not against tourism, nor are they about demonizing it,” but argued that “brave steps” and a “change in course” were needed.
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Tourism is now the Balearic Islands’ main industry, generating 87% of the islands’ GDP, 40% of employment and providing jobs to more than 200,000 people. Local authorities are currently holding consultations to tackle the “impossible task” of transforming the region’s economic model to allow holidaymakers and residents to coexist and protect the natural environment.
A new website, titled “The Islands You Want,” will be launched, along with 12 working groups and expert committees to examine the validity and feasibility of the proposals. Spanish news site Mallorca Today reported that the process will involve six stages: setting up a roundtable, defining the problem and its roots, identifying the way forward, reaching a consensus on the actions required, and adopting and applying the measures.
Police were forced to step in over the weekend after protesters gathered to block holidaymakers from accessing Mallorca’s beaches. Demonstrators carried banners in the sea and on the sand to drive tourists away, including one that read: “Watch out for the locals, we are angry.”
Protesters argued that tourists are no longer paying for local bars and restaurants and are instead flocking to all-inclusive resorts. “This is not just about tourists going to the beach,” said Matias Pizarro, 52, from Santani village. “The island’s resources are being overstrained by demand from tourist destinations.”
“Mallorca is at its breaking point and on the brink of environmental and social collapse. Locals can no longer afford the rent or study or work outside of tourism. The situation is dire for many.”
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