Police deployed rubber bullets and batons to disperse thousands of anti-tourism protesters during a demonstration in Palma, the capital of Mallorca, on Sunday. Around 25,000 people gathered under the slogan “Mallorca on the edge” to express their concerns about the island’s heavy influx of visitors and its impact on local infrastructure and quality of life.
The protest initially proceeded peacefully with a manifesto reading and live music at Ses Voltes square. However, tensions escalated when some demonstrators attempted to move towards Parc de la Mar and were blocked by a police cordon. Reports indicate that some participants threw plastic bottles and other objects at riot officers, prompting law enforcement to respond with rubber bullets and a baton charge. According to police sources, eight people sustained injuries, two of whom required hospital treatment. One man was detained overnight on suspicion of public disorder.
Terraferida, an environmental organization supporting the protest, criticized the police response for endangering protesters, journalists, and tourists alike. Similarly, the STEI workers’ union described the police reaction as “completely disproportionate” and inappropriate for a democratic society. Alfonso Rodríguez, Spain’s governing delegate in Mallorca, condemned the confrontations as “unacceptable” and announced he would request a full report on police actions to determine accountability.
Mallorca, an island with fewer than one million residents, welcomed over 13 million tourists in 2025, predominantly from Germany, the United Kingdom, and other European countries. This surge has fueled longstanding tensions and protests across Spanish resorts since 2023, beginning in the Canary Islands. The regional government of the Balearic Islands, led by the conservative People’s Party, has implemented measures aimed at managing visitor numbers, including a freeze on hotel capacity growth and restrictions on letting tourist apartments in residential areas.
Despite these efforts, protest groups argue these steps fall short. Organizers warned that the forthcoming total solar eclipse on August 12th could exacerbate visitor overcrowding and strain already stretched services. Dani Comas, spokesperson for the Less Tourism, More Life campaign, described the island as being “converted into a theme park for tourists,” warning that local services would be overwhelmed to serve visitors.
Ahead of the Mallorca protest, regional officials urged participants to avoid disruptive actions, referencing a recent demonstration in Barcelona where tourists were sprayed with water pistols. In 2024, several thousand demonstrators marched through Barcelona’s La Rambla carrying banners with messages such as “Tourism kills the city” and highlighting risks associated with “balconing,” a hazardous practice among some tourists involving jumping from hotel balconies into pools.