Locals in Majorca are gearing up for a summer of intense protests against the influx of tourists that flood the island each year. The anti-tourism activists are threatening to bring the busy airport in Palma to a standstill in a radical attempt to make their voices heard.
At a recent “citizen’s assembly” in the town of Sineu, more than 300 people gathered to discuss plans to disrupt the airport during the peak summer months. The proposed tactic involves causing traffic gridlock and massing cars outside one of the busiest airports in Europe.
The activists, organized by Association Menys Turisme, Mes Vida (Less Tourism, More Life), are serious about their plans, even discussing setting up a fund to pay potential fines levied by authorities. They also suggested disrupting island hotels to make their demands known.
Locals have long been frustrated by the avalanche of vacationers each year and the impact it has on their lives. Anti-tourist graffiti has been popping up around the island, with messages like “Tourists Go Home” appearing in English in Majorcan neighborhoods.
The protests are not limited to Majorca, as Ibiza locals are also preparing to take to the streets to protest against British revelers. The demonstrations are part of a wave of anti-tourist measures sweeping across Europe in popular holiday hotspots, as authorities try to find a balance between catering to tourists and preserving the quality of life for locals.