Majorca’s locals speak out against overtourism, housing crises, and a way of life under threat
Mar 25, 2025
In a bold and emotionally charged open letter, Majorcan campaign groups have issued an urgent plea to tourists: DO NOT COME. The message, driven by local frustration over the impacts of overtourism, signals a shift from polite resistance to direct confrontation. Joana Maria Estrany Vallespir, a leading voice in the movement and member of SOS Residents, explains the toll tourism has taken on the island’s environment, infrastructure, housing, and culture. With a record-breaking 20 million tourists expected in 2025, locals feel their quality of life is under siege—and they are no longer willing to stay silent.
Key takeaways
- Tourist fatigue turns into direct resistance: An open letter from Majorcan groups, including SOS Residents, urges tourists to stay away, declaring “You are the source of our problem.”
- Unsustainable growth: Majorca’s population has surged by 32% in two decades, with tourism blamed for driving housing shortages, overcrowded infrastructure, and environmental strain.
- New policies fall short: Measures like the new Sustainable Tourism Tax are seen as symbolic, failing to tackle the core issue – too many tourists.
- Seasonality isn’t helping: Spreading tourism across the year hasn’t eased pressure; instead, it’s created year-round saturation.
- It’s not just about British tourists: The issue isn’t nationality but mass tourism. Richer tourists may worsen inequality by inflating property prices and deepening the social divide.
- Locals are being pushed out: With rising living costs and speculative property purchases, many locals are living in caravans or leaving the island altogether.
- Complex solutions, high stakes: Campaigners call for tourist caps, curbs on foreign property investment, and higher flight costs—but acknowledge these solutions come with economic trade-offs.
- Mounting tensions: While not openly supporting protest actions like spraying tourists with water pistols, Joana Maria understands the anger: “People are fed up.”
- A line has been drawn: With millions more visitors on the way, Majorcans are no longer asking nicely – they’re demanding change.
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