Mallorca anti-tourism protest turns chaotic as riot police fire rubber bullets at crowds

Riot police fired rubber bullets and charged demonstrators with batons after one of Mallorca’s largest-ever anti-tourism protests descended into violence in Palma, leaving at least eight people injured and reigniting debate over the impact of mass tourism on the Spanish island. 

Tens of thousands of people took to the streets on Sunday in a demonstration organised under the slogan “Less Tourism, More Life” (“Menys Turisme, Més Vida”), calling for tighter controls on visitor numbers and urgent action to tackle soaring housing costs, environmental pressures and the increasing “touristification” of the island. Police estimated attendance at around 25,000 people, while organisers put the figure at as many as 70,000, making it one of the biggest anti-tourism protests Mallorca has seen in recent years. 

The demonstration began shortly after 7:00 p.m. in Palma’s Plaza de España, with thousands of protesters marching through La Rambla, Calle Unió and Paseo del Born. As the procession made its way through the city centre, many restaurants and cafes along the route removed their outdoor tables and chairs, leaving the streets almost entirely occupied by demonstrators. Dozens of tourists gathered on the pavements to watch the protest as it passed through the island’s capital.

The march passed peacefully through much of Palma before tensions emerged near Ses Voltes, where organisers had planned to read the protest manifesto. According to local reports, police restricted access to the area because of crowd-control concerns, preventing many demonstrators from entering. After the manifesto was read, part of the crowd attempted to continue marching towards Parc de la Mar, where they were met by a large deployment of Spain’s National Police. 

Witnesses said protesters chanted slogans including “I’d be ashamed to be a police officer” and “Out with the occupying forces” as officers blocked their route. The situation escalated when a small group of demonstrators threw objects, mainly plastic bottles, at police officers. Police responded with baton charges and fired around 20 rubber bullets to disperse the crowd.

Paramedics treated eight people at the scene, with two taken to hospital with minor injuries. One man suffered a bleeding head wound, while witnesses also reported that some tourists passing through the area became caught up in the clashes. 

The demonstration was organised by the platform Less Tourism, More Life, which argues that Mallorca has reached its limit after years of record visitor numbers. “With all limits broken and the island converted into a theme park for tourists, we are going to see our already collapsed services put to the service of visitors,” coordinators said. 

Protesters say mass tourism has fuelled a housing crisis, pushed up rental prices, strained public services and transformed neighbourhoods into tourism-focused areas at the expense of local residents. Banners carried during the march called for limits on tourist accommodation, restrictions on cruise ships and private jets, stronger protection for affordable housing and a transition towards a more sustainable economic model.

The unrest comes as Spain continues to experience growing protests against overtourism across several popular destinations, including Barcelona, Ibiza and the Canary Islands. Mallorca, one of Europe’s busiest holiday islands, welcomed more than 13 million visitors last year, with campaigners arguing that the current tourism model is no longer sustainable for residents or the environment.