Anti-tourism protests erupt in Mallorca during peak holiday season

Clashes between anti-tourism protesters and police erupted in Mallorca over the weekend, leaving several people injured and raising fresh concerns over growing tensions in one of Europe’s most popular holiday destinations.

Around 25,000 demonstrators gathered in Palma under the slogan ‘Mallorca on the edge’ to protest against the island’s tourism model and the impact of visitor numbers on housing, public services, and local communities.

The protest turned violent after the official demonstration concluded, when groups attempted to move towards Parc de la Mar but were blocked by riot police. Officers responded with batons and rubber bullets after some demonstrators reportedly threw plastic bottles and other objects.

Police said eight people were injured during the clashes, with two requiring hospital treatment. One man was arrested on suspicion of a public order offence.

The police response drew criticism from organisers and trade unions. Campaign group Terraferida accused officers of endangering protesters, journalists, and tourists, while the STEI workers’ union described the tactics as “completely disproportionate”.

Spain’s government delegate in Mallorca, Alfonso Rodríguez, called footage of the incident “unacceptable” and said a full report into the operation had been requested.

The unrest comes as Mallorca prepares for another busy holiday period. Despite having fewer than one million permanent residents, the Balearic island welcomed more than 13 million visitors in 2025, the majority from Germany, the UK, and other European markets.

Regional authorities have introduced measures intended to slow tourism growth, including capping hotel capacity and restricting new tourist apartments in residential buildings.

However, campaign groups argue the measures do not go far enough and have warned of another surge in visitor numbers during the total solar eclipse expected to draw thousands of tourists to the island next month.