Tourists have never been a popular group. They can be annoying, messy, and they don’t always respect the local culture, but some places are now facing a much bigger consequence of mass-tourism than mild annoyance: actual housing shortages and stagnant wages are pushing residents out of their homes. And in Mallorca, it’s reaching a boiling point.
Open letter tells foreign investors ‘you are not welcome’
The Spanish island has long been a favourite for holidaymakers and retirees for its mix of sandy beaches and a gorgeous old town, but local protesters have just released a letter addressed to foreign real estate agencies which is far from complimentary. Their message to international investors is clear: ‘You are not welcome’.
It isn’t actually tourists, the individual people who visit, that they’re upset with. Instead, much of the protestors’ anger is directed towards Anglophone businesses who buy up property on the island and convert it into holiday lets, taking them off the market for the people who actually live there.
The letter, seen by the i Paper, says that this practice has ‘pushed [locals] out of their towns by unaffordable prices’, adding that ‘For decades now our island has been treated as a commodity, a place to be exploited, a holiday backdrop, a picture postcard to be bought and sold. And this has come at a cost we can no longer bear.’
‘Mediterranean paradise’ image rings hollow for locals
The increase in holiday rentals has been an issue in popular holiday destinations across the continent, including in other Spanish cities. In Barcelona, short-term lets became such a problem for the city’s housing market that the authorities prevented 65,000 properties from being listed for breaching regulations this year.
The letter went on to explain that: ‘Every luxury villa sold to a millionaire, a foreign retiree or a foreign family means one local family without a home. Every agency that advertises a ‘Mediterranean paradise’ in London, Berlin or New York fuels gentrification and drives out those who have lived there all their lives.’
This comes after huge protests across Spain, including in Palma, Mallorca’s capital, took place back in June. Activists turned out in their droves to apply more pressure to their governments to take urgent action against the increasing amount of property speculation which is damaging their communities.
Tourist taxes and restrictions
According to the Spanish National Institute of Statistics, more than 14.4 million people visit the Balearic Islands every year, vastly outnumbering their 1.2 million residents. It is this volume, rather than the fact that people wish to visit in itself, that protestors take issue with. Some Spanish leaders are fighting overtourism with increased taxes and property restrictions, but for some residents of Mallorca, it’s not enough.
The letter concluded that ‘Mallorca is more than an amusement park for the rich – it is a living land, a community, a home’. It seems likely that unrest will continue until those in charge take action against what locals see as the island’s rapid gentrification.
More on overtourism in Europe
If you’ve got a holiday planned sometime soon, there’s no need to cancel. Just have a read of our guide on how to be a better tourist when you travel, and a more sustainable one. And, if you’re curious, we’ve also done a deep dive into whether Europe can actually recover from this level of overtourism.
In the meantime, check out our list of the most underrated places to visit in Europe and five countries that actually want visitors right now.
Read more: These are the best destinations for slow travel, according to a new Index.
Plus: This is the best Nordic city break right now, according to Time Out.
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