Growing backlash against mass tourism: "This is not tourism, it's an invasion"

In popular European tourist destinations like Spain, Italy, and Greece, there is growing backlash against mass tourism.

In Spain's Mallorca island, a protest against mass tourism on Sunday ended with police intervention. Activists at Es Caló des Moro, one of Mallorca's dream coves, protested the overcrowding of beaches, chanting slogans like "tourists out" in an effort to reclaim the beaches for locals.

Activists from the group Mallorca Platja Turu hung banners saying "Ocupem les nostres plages" (Let's occupy our beaches!) and "És ben hora d'aturar" (It's time to stop). Police created barriers between activists and tourists amid heightened tensions at the beach.

NEED FOR CONTROL

On May 27th, fifteen thousand people in Mallorca protested the increasing number of tourists with banners saying "tourists go home" and "Mallorca is not for sale." Locals expressed their displeasure with the influx of tourists by booing them during the demonstration.

The organizing group, Banc del Temps, attributed rising rents and prices to the tourism boom and announced their intention to continue protests.

Mallorcans are not only concerned about high prices but also about the noisy entertainment style of tourists. Groups advocating for tourism control are urging authorities to restrict property sales to foreigners.

On July 21st, a mass protest is planned in the Balearic Islands, emphasizing that the island and its beaches cannot sustain such high levels of tourism. Activists underscored their ongoing fight against mass tourism, stating "Menys turisme, més vida" (Less tourism, more life). The Balearic Islands, an autonomous community of Spain located in the middle of the Mediterranean, include islands like Menorca, Mallorca, Cabrera, Ibiza, and Formentera.

In Venice, Italy, famous for its canals, there are also reactions against the influx of tourists. The historic city, unable to handle the increasing crowds, has begun to collect a landing tax from daily visitors.

ONLY GOVERNMENTS BENEFITTING

In Barcelona, frequent protests with slogans like "Tourists go home" and "This is not tourism, it's an invasion" highlight concerns that uncontrolled tourism is driving up prices in the city, benefiting governments but adversely affecting local residents with increased costs and exorbitant prices. There is criticism that mass tourism worsens rather than improves the situation for local residents. Protesters also point out that mass tourism contributes to environmental and ecological damage.