Tourism is the biggest industry in Spain, but it’s also one of its biggest problems at the moment.
Each year millions of people visit the country and bring with them billions of euros – and, unfortunately, quite a bit of stress for locals. Some communities feel they’re being pushed out of their homes and replaced with hotels and short-term holiday stays, often to cater to visitors who aren’t respectful of the area or culture.
In Mallorca, things are getting particularly tense. Last month, locals published an open letter to foreign property investors telling them ‘you are not welcome’, and now leadership has announced that it will be taking drastic action against rampant overtourism: there will be no new holiday lets or hostels.
No more holiday homes, Palma council declares
Jamie Martínez Llabrés, the mayor of Mallorca’s capital city Palma, explained that throughout Palma, short-term tourist accommodation ‘in all [its] forms’ will be restricted to businesses that are already licensed.
He added that ‘if they are cancelled, they cannot be replaced with new licenses’, meaning that no currently closed hotels or hostels can reopen until the ban lifts. San Sebastián, which also recently prohibited smoking on its beaches, was the first place in Spain to implement a ban of this sort back in 2023, and both Alicante and Madrid have since followed suit.
Llabrés also announced that ‘party boats’ would be completely barred from Palma’s port, which he described as ‘essential infrastructure’ in need of protection. The boats, which do exactly what they say on the tin (or on the hull), are often subject to noise complaints from residents living near the bay, and getting rid of them is part of a wider push from the city council to attract a different sort of visitor.
Palma is hoping for more ‘high-quality tourism’
Partygoers in Spain tend to head to its nightlife hubs like Ibiza or Magaluf, but Palma gets its fair share of stag dos/hen nights/drunk twenty-somethings too. These are the types of visitors the council wants to cut down on, in favour of a more ‘quality and sustainable’ tourist population, according to euronews.
Existing measures seem to already be working to this end, as despite tourist numbers decreasing slightly, their spending has grown. There are also fewer 1-3 star hotels than there used to be, while ‘higher category’ spots have seen increased success.
According to Llabrés; ‘Our commitment to quality, coexistence, and sustainability is being reflected in the type of visitors and the tourism offering we want for Palma.’
Spain’s battle with overtourism
Mallorca isn’t the only place cracking down on short-term lets. The national government introduced restrictions across the country earlier this year, requiring anyone planning to rent out a property to tourists to register. Those not registered are now considered ‘illegal’, and will be taken off the market.
Authorities blocked 65,000 rentals from being advertised back in May, and a further 53,000 were removed in September.
Avoid being part of the problem
You don’t have to cancel your upcoming trip to the Balearic Islands – just have a look at our guide on how to be a better tourist before you go. If you want to check out the path less travelled, plan your next holiday to one of Europe’s most underrated destinations, or to one of these nations that actually need your tourism right now.
Did you see that these are officially Europe’s happiest cities in 2025, according to locals?
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