Are Tourists Still Welcome In Mallorca?

Thousands of people took to the streets of Palma this week to protest against the effects of mass tourism, housing shortages and increasing pressure on life in Mallorca.

The dramatic images and reports of clashes between police and demonstrators have travelled around the world. Inevitably, they have left some visitors asking a worrying question: are tourists still welcome in Mallorca?

In this week’s Majorca Mallorca Podcast, Vicki McLeod and Oliver Neilson look beyond the headlines and discuss what the protest was really about.

What happened at the Palma tourism protest?

The demonstration was organised by Menys Turisme, Més Vida, meaning Less Tourism, More Life. Protesters marched through Palma before heading towards Ses Voltes, beneath the cathedral, where the final manifesto was due to be read.

Attendance estimates varied considerably. Police put the number at approximately 25,000, while organisers claimed that as many as 70,000 people participated.

Problems developed when access to Ses Voltes was restricted because the area had reached capacity. Some demonstrators believed they were being prevented from completing the protest. There were clashes, police used batons and rubber bullets, and several people were reportedly injured.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez subsequently confirmed that an investigation had been opened to establish exactly what happened and whether the police response was proportionate.

Is Mallorca protesting against tourists?

“Tourists go home” is the slogan most likely to make international headlines, but it does not properly explain the debate taking place in Mallorca.

Many protesters are not demanding an end to tourism. They are asking how much tourism the island can accommodate without damaging residents’ quality of life, the natural environment and the visitor experience itself.

Their concerns include:

• The shortage of affordable long-term housing
• Rising rents and property prices
• Congested roads and overcrowded beaches
• Pressure on water and other natural resources
• Low salaries within the tourism industry
• The conversion of homes into holiday accommodation
• The effect of second homes and remote working on local communities

Mallorca needs tourism. It supports hotels, restaurants, shops, taxis, activity providers and thousands of local families. The real question is how the economic benefits can be shared more fairly while protecting the island and ensuring that residents can still afford to live here.

Are visitors safe and welcome in Mallorca?

For the overwhelming majority of visitors, the answer is yes.

The protests are directed primarily at government policies and Mallorca’s economic model, not at individual families arriving for a holiday.

Visitors are extremely unlikely to encounter any confrontation. Hotels, restaurants, shops and tourism businesses continue to welcome their customers, and everyday life across the island is carrying on normally.

The images of the clashes were serious, but they represented a small part of a much larger demonstration. They should not be interpreted as evidence that Mallorca has become unsafe for tourists.

Palma Airport and the new EES queues

The episode also discusses reports of long queues for British passengers arriving at Palma Airport.

Which? travel editor Rory Boland identified Palma as one of the airports where travellers have reported significant delays during the introduction of the Entry/Exit System, or EES.

One problem is “bunching”, when several delayed flights arrive within a short period and overwhelm passport control. Oliver describes waiting around 45 minutes at passport control after a series of flights arrived late at night.

However, experiences vary considerably. Many passengers continue to report passing through Palma Airport quickly and without any serious problems.

Travellers arriving from outside the Schengen Area should be prepared for possible delays, particularly during busy summer weekends. Keep water, essential medication and something to occupy younger children in your hand luggage.

Passengers who require airport assistance should confirm their arrangements with the airline in advance.

Could Mallorca become a European firefighting centre?

Pedro Sánchez has proposed locating a new European firefighting hub at the Son Sant Joan Air Base in Mallorca.

The centre would coordinate resources for tackling major fires across the western Mediterranean, complementing the existing European facility in Cyprus.

The proposal comes as Spain and France continue to face devastating wildfires. Hotter summers, dry vegetation and the rapid growth created by wet winters can combine to produce extremely dangerous conditions.

Mallorca understands that danger. The 2013 Andratx wildfire, which began near Sa Coma Calenta, burned more than 2,000 hectares and remains vivid in the memories of people living in the area.

A rapidly developing crisis in Ceuta

The final part of the episode turns to Ceuta, one of Spain’s two territories on the North African coast.

At the time of recording, approximately 60,000 people were reported to have crossed from Morocco into Ceuta within 24 hours. The unprecedented influx overwhelmed local services and created a rapidly developing humanitarian and political crisis.

The situation was still changing as the episode was recorded, with conflicting and evolving reports concerning deaths, returns to Morocco and the Spanish government’s response.

Ceuta and Melilla form the European Union’s only land borders with Africa. The scale of the arrivals has reopened difficult questions about border security, migration policy, asylum processing and freedom of movement within Europe.

Plus, celebrities, superyachts and the eclipse

This episode of the podcast was not all politics and breaking news.

Jennifer Aniston and Courteney Cox were spotted enjoying Mallorca aboard the superyacht Rising Sun, while Cristiano Ronaldo’s visit prompted speculation about his engagement to Georgina Rodríguez.

Vicki and Oliver also return to the approaching total solar eclipse, following the extraordinary response to their previous conversation with eclipse expert Nick Brown.

With official information, road restrictions and viewing arrangements continuing to change, Majorca Mallorca is updating its eclipse guide regularly.

Listen to the complete episode of the Majorca Mallorca Podcast for the full conversation.

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