Spanish Locals Demand Action Against Influx of Drunk Tourists

Major holiday destinations in Spain are facing backlash from locals who are increasingly frustrated with mass tourism. Protests have erupted across the Canary Islands, the Balearic Islands, and major cities such as Barcelona.

Residents are particularly vocal about how the influx of tourists drives up housing costs and impacts their daily lives. Maria Amengual, a resident of Mallorca, referred to the surge of visitors during summer as a "brutal invasion." She noted that mass tourism often overwhelms local emergency services, with ambulances frequently attending to tourists who are drunk or on drugs.

Economic impacts are also significant. Diario de Ibiza reports that rents in tourist hotspots have tripled or even quadrupled. This surge in housing costs has forced essential workers, including doctors and police officers, to leave places like Ibiza and Mallorca. In some extreme cases, police officers have resorted to sleeping in their cars, and teachers commute by plane from Palma to Ibiza due to unaffordable rents.

Moreover, the shift in housing dynamics has seen local flats in Barcelona's old town converted into tourist accommodations or taken over by drug mafias, exacerbating social issues.

To address these challenges, María José Catalá, Mayor of Valencia, introduced new policies in May. She suspended permits for tourist flats within homeowners' associations and commercial premises and banned mega cruise ships from docking at Valencia's port.

The President of the Balearic Islands, Marga Prohens, also acknowledged the strain of mass tourism, declaring that "talking about limits is the best way to defend tourism." She emphasized that the Balearic Islands have reached their capacity, suggesting that measures to curb the influx of tourists are necessary for sustainable tourism management.