The Town Behind Mallorca’s Mass Overtourism Protests: ‘A Summer Of Discontent’

Mallorca, long a magnet for sun-seekers and party-goers, has seen its population of just one million inundated by a staggering 10 to 18 million visitors a year. Now, locals are pushing back against overtourism, with protests erupting even in its towns far from the party beaches.

On March 25, at least 10,000 people took to the streets to protest overtourism. On June 1, protestors attempted to "occupy the beaches." On June 16, protestors plan a mass demonstration.

The latest wave of discontent, the largest the Balearic islands has ever witnessed, was sparked not in coastal hotspots but in a small, inland town called Sencelles.

It's a sign of how tourism now impacts every corner of the island that even a town without classic tourist attractions has become swarmed by tourists seeking lodging.

“Locals cannot access housing because prices are so high,” said Guillem Colom-Montero, a native of Mallorca and a lecturer at the University of Glasgow