Majorca is bracing for yet another wave of overtourism protests as the Spanish island loved by Brits fights back against overcrowding and soaring house prices. Protests against overtourism have become a regular feature of the summer season in southern Europe.
This year, significant demonstrations have already occurred in Spain’s Canary Islands and Majorca. On Sunday, these protests seem to be evolving, with coordinated demonstrations planned in tourist hotspots across Spain, Portugal, Italy and potentially France. In Spain, protest marches are set to take place in Barcelona, San Sebastían, Granada, Majorca, Minorca and Ibiza.
Demonstrations are also scheduled in Lisbon, Portugal and Genoa, Italy.
Up to 20,000 peaceful protestors attended previous demonstrations against mass tourism in Barcelona and Palma, Majorca’s capital city.
Last summer, disgruntled locals took to the streets to voice their anger at peak season tourist overcrowding, with some pointing fingers at tourists and “digital nomads” for skyrocketing property prices.
At the forefront of Palma’s June 15 protests is Menys Turisme, Més Vida (Less Tourism, More Life), with a coalition of 60 organisations banding together for the cause.
Pere Joan Femenia, a representative for the group, said: “We’re asking for a moratorium to put a limit on the number of tourists who can come, and then to manage the airports so that they reduce the number of flights that arrive.”
This week also brings a new series of demonstrations by the Southern European Network Against Touristisation, which started in April 2025 and saw thousands raising concerns about mass tourism’s impact on the cost of living.
The new wave of demonstrations comes after a 4.9% spike in Europe’s international tourist arrivals in the first quarter of this year.
