UK tourists visiting Spanish island told to 'stay at home'
An open letter has been written to tourists planning to visit Mallorca
An emotive and passionate open letter has been written from the residents of Mallorca, addressed to tourists considering a trip to the Spanish island.
The letter, collaboratively written by seven protest groups, demands that tourists "stay home" and "do not come" to the island due to significant concerns including overcrowding, gentrification, and rising cost of living, among other issues.
Mallorca, also spelt Majorca, has experienced consistent year-on-year increases in its number of tourists. The letter stated that in 2024, 33 million passengers passed through Palma de Mallorca Airport - a 7 per cent rise from 2023 - and tourist numbers are expected to rise a further 6 per cent in 2025.
The letter also stated that while the number of tourists in the last 25 years has risen by more than 30 per cent, the Balearic Islands have plummeted in the European per capita income ranking, falling from position 48 to 148.
Opening the letter, the anti-tourist message reads: "We represent various groups of residents in Mallorca who are deeply concerned about the overwhelming saturation our island is experiencing.
"The recent statements made by local politicians and hoteliers, with great irresponsibility, deny this evident reality and promote the arrival of even more tourists from both international and national markets."
They go on to explain that the "greed and avarice of hoteliers, politicians, real estate investors, and all kinds of "parasites" have brought us to an emergency situation.", and that Mallorca has been "exploited to unimaginable limits".
Explaining the issues that face the residents of Mallorca, the letter reads: "Environmental and ecosystem deterioration, infrastructure issues, overwhelmed public services, transportation problems, loss of quality of life, gentrification, disproportionate increases in the cost of living, and a total lack of access to housing for the local population."
Recently the Balearic government implemented a sustainability plan as a result of anti-tourism action, which aims to reduce dependence on traditional tourist markets, specifically Germany and the UK. But the residents of Mallorca say that this is not enough.
The open letter reads: "It is insulting that our politicians use the concept of “sustainable” every time they talk about tourism in Mallorca because nothing could be further from the truth.
"Politicians tell us they want to promote the deseasonalization of the tourism industry. This would mean reducing the number of tourists during peak season by spreading them throughout the year. However, what is actually happening is exactly the opposite: maintaining 100% occupancy during peak season while also filling Mallorca with tourists for the rest of the year."
The letter is signed off with: "It is time to take a stand. Our leaders do not listen to us, so we, the residents, ask you: DO NOT COME. We do not need more tourists; in fact, you are the source of our problem. Locals say: 'ENOUGH. STAY HOME!'"
Signed at the bottom of the letter are the names of the organisations who wrote the letter. It was written by SOS RESIDENTS, MENYS TURISME MÉS VIDA, GOB, GADMA. GRUP AMICS DE LA TERRA DE MALLORCA, ALTERNATIVA PER POLLENÇA, BRUNZIT, and AMICS DE LA VALL DE COANEGRA.