A coalition of environmental groups and residents in Mallorca has issued an open letter urging tourists to reconsider visiting the island, citing concerns over the impact of mass tourism on local communities and the environment. The letter, signed by seven organisations, including GOB, Menys Turisme Més Vida (Less Tourism More Life), and SOS Residents, highlights mounting frustration over overcrowding, rising costs, and the deterioration of Mallorca’s quality of life.
The letter, addressed to “Dear tourists,” opens with a reflection on Mallorca’s long-standing tourism tradition but states that what was once a source of pride has now become the island’s greatest challenge.
“Until recently, this was a source of pride, but right now it has become our biggest problem,” the letter reads. It goes on to describe how, in past decades, there was a balance between tourism and local life, with residents engaged in various sectors beyond just tourism. However, the authors argue that the pursuit of profits by hoteliers, real estate investors, and politicians has led to an “emergency situation.”
The groups claim that Mallorca is being exploited to “unimaginable limits,” listing a series of grievances, including infrastructure overload, environmental degradation, rising living costs, and a housing crisis for locals. The letter states that despite public outcry, officials continue to prioritise economic gains over sustainability, actively promoting Mallorca as a tourist destination at international fairs instead of addressing the crisis.
The letter presents stark statistics to highlight the extent of tourism pressure:
- If Mallorca were an independent state, it would have the second-highest population growth worldwide in the last 40 years (84%), second only to India (91%).
- Despite a 30% increase in tourist numbers over the past 25 years, the Balearic Islands have dropped in the European per capita income ranking from position 48 to 148.
- For every island resident, Mallorca receives 15 tourists annually.
- In 2024, Palma de Mallorca Airport recorded over 33 million passengers, a 7% increase from 2023, and numbers are expected to rise by another 6% in 2025.
- Cruise tourism in Palma is projected to reach 1.8 million passengers in 2025.
The signatories take issue with politicians’ claims of sustainability, arguing that tourism policies contradict the true meaning of the term. “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,” they write, emphasising that unchecked tourism growth is depleting the island’s resources and making life increasingly difficult for residents.
The letter criticises seasonality measures, stating that rather than reducing peak-season overcrowding, officials are extending tourism throughout the year, maintaining “100% occupancy in peak season while also filling Mallorca with tourists for the rest of the year.”
In a striking conclusion, the letter asserts that Mallorca is no longer the paradise that tourists believe it to be. It calls on visitors to “put yourselves in our place” and refrain from traveling to the island. “Mallorca is not the paradise they are selling you. The local population is angry and no longer hospitable because the land we love is being destroyed, and many of us have to leave the island because it is uninhabitable,” it states.
The final plea is explicit: “DO NOT COME. We do not need more tourists; in fact, you are the source of our problem.” The letter ends with the bold demand: “ENOUGH. STAY HOME!”
This letter marks a significant escalation in Mallorca’s growing anti-tourism movement. While protests against over-tourism have become more frequent in recent years, this direct appeal to tourists reflects an increasing sense of urgency among local residents.
The organisations behind the letter—SOS Residents, Menys Turisme Més Vida, GOB, GADMA, Alternativa per Pollença, Brunzit, and Amics de la Vall de Coanegra— hope that their message will pressure authorities to take decisive action in regulating tourism and alleviating its negative effects on Mallorca’s communities and environment.
The letter has sparked heated debate, with some supporting the activists’ concerns while others argue that tourism remains the backbone of Mallorca’s economy. Whether this public plea will impact tourist numbers remains to be seen, but it is clear that tensions surrounding mass tourism on the island are reaching a boiling point.
