Wednesday, March 12, 2025
Spain faces escalating anti-tourism protests as activists demand action to protect housing and the environment, with more demonstrations planned for the summer.
Anti-tourism groups in Spain are ramping up their efforts to disrupt the summer season, fueled by growing frustration over what they see as the government’s inaction. Last year, protests erupted with tens of thousands of people taking to the streets, demanding an end to unchecked tourism.
Activists argue that the current tourism model is wreaking havoc on the environment and depleting vital resources like water. Locals also claim that skyrocketing property prices, driven by investors turning homes into vacation rentals, are forcing them out of the housing market.
Throughout 2024, protests spanned spring, summer, and autumn, targeting some of Spain’s most visited destinations, including the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands.
The Banc de Temps collective, based in Sencelles on Majorca, has been a key player in these protests. Last year, they posted a video exposing the housing crisis in the small village of 4,000 residents, blaming tourism for the shortage of affordable housing. In May, they organized a protest in Palma, initially expecting around 2,000 attendees, but were overwhelmed by a turnout five times that size.
The collective released another video this week, warning that the situation has worsened and suggesting that additional protests are on the horizon.
Majorca, part of the Balearic Islands along with Menorca, Ibiza, and Formentera, remains a focal point for activists. Members of the Menys Turisme, Més Vida (Less Tourism, More Life) movement are also gearing up for more demonstrations this year, intensifying the ongoing calls for change.