In the scorching summer, a long line of rented cars spread for kilometers struggles on a winding road. This late summer morning, for the army of vacationers heads for Weldemosa. Picture is one of the most popular sites on the Mediterranean Island of Mountain Village Mallorka, and, as in previous years, traffic jams on narrow hill roads are once again a daily phenomenon. Anarchy is not just a problem for the holidays, which a bus gets stuck, mainly to the passengers to work. “It is unimaginable,” one of them mumbling, seems to be with a look at endless stop-and-go traffic.
19 million vacation in Balaric Islands
Although the opposition to large -scale tourism has been growing over the Belleric Islands for years, such as in other parts of Spain, and often protests explode, the islands are going to a new visitor record this year. By the end of July, around 11 million people had spent their holidays in the archipelago, there was a slight increase relative to the same period last year. For the entire 2024, the figure was 18.7 million. In 2025, this number exceeds 19 million – or one of the five of Spain’s international visitors.
Although the figures may appear promising on the surface, Mallorca’s tourism industry is very low to feel it. Restaurant, retailers and operators of tourist attractions all say their sales figures are quite low. The irony is that they are most concerned about German tourists. Their number has fallen dramatically in the recent summer months compared to last year, which is more than 8% in July alone. Traditionally, German is the largest group of holidays in Mallorca. So many people are playing alarm.
Pedro Oliver, president of the Tourist Guides Association on the island, is confident that anti-tourism rallies are partially guilty. Oliver says, “I have no doubt that they have had an impact: the message has been recited.” He and his colleagues have seen that something. He said, “Tourists are constantly asking if it is true that Mallorca no longer wants vacationer,” he says. Rafel Roig, the chairman of the Balaric Transport Federation, takes a similar scene. “It’s clear: If I hear that I did not want to one place, I am not going there.”
Summer temperature can be a factor
Alvaro Blanco from the Spanish tourist office in Berlin said that German holidays are being stopped by anti -tourism demonstrations. His office has received only two emails from the concerned German citizens on the matter in recent months. “I don’t think the protest is having any effect,” Blanco is called. Economic challenges in Germany can be a more decisive factor, they suggest. So they suspect that some passengers may stay away from southern Europe due to rising temperatures in summer months.
Carlos Sendra of Mabrion, a counseling firm specialized in tourism, agrees, Althogah believes that anti-tourism rallies may have a long-term effect. “We should try to make Sura that the idea that passengers are not welcome, not welcome to the Belleric Islands,” Hey says. As german can stay away, CEndra mainly credits it for economic factors, especially indicating recent rapid rise in prices.
Hotel Prices Holiday Budget Strain
Now over the years, Mallorca’s tourism industry is trying to improve quality. This is most clear from the more spectacular habitat on today’s offer: in the last 20 years, the number of four and five -star hotels has been tripled, as one to three star hotels disappear from the market. And this means increase in prices. When it comes to marketing, the Bareric government, for example, carries up advertising in the US, casting on the net. This year, unusually a large number of French, Italian and Scandinavian tourists visited the island, more than a decline in German tourists.
But despite everything, the island is growing for another record. Although the regional government says that the archipelago is in capacity, the administration has so far overcome any measurement to limit tourism. After being far ahead, the government still cannot bring itself to enhance the housing tax, offers a special levy on rental cars, or implements strict rules on a holiday fare. The dependence on tourism is very great, as it is concerned that the demand may actually fall.
Protests to continue
For Jaume Pujol, nothing has changed on Mallorca. “This summer was no different from the previous one,” the spokesperson of the stage says “Mains Turissme Mess Vida” (low tourism, more life). The group has organized several major demonstrations against the excesses of tourism on a large scale. Pujol says, “The roads were crowded again this year, and the healthcare system was overloaded. The argument of development remains unchanged,” Pujol says that next year, more performance, including a major rally, are on the horizon. “The issue is relevant,” they say.
This article was original in German.