The Guardian view on beach protests in the Balearics: locals

Across Europe, saturation tourism has had an environmental and social impact that needs to be addressed

In 2021, as the easing of Covid restrictions prompted a tentative recovery in Europe’s shell-shocked tourist industry, Spain’s Balearic Islands welcomed back holidaymakers with enthusiasm and relief. During the pandemic, overall numbers of visitors dropped by around 80%, laying waste to the local economy. Three years on, however, Mallorca and Ibiza are on the frontline of a different crisis – one that is less dramatic in scale, but growing in profile.

To mark the beginning of this year’s summer holiday season, an estimated 10,000 locals marched through Mallorca’s capital, Palma, last week, protesting against the saturation tourism that they say has rendered their city unliveable. Demonstrations are expected to continue through the summer.