Last month, protesters took to the streets of Palma, Mallorca, carrying placards daubed with slogans like "No to mass tourism" and "Tourism, but not like this".
Although he did not attend, Mallorcan Jaume Fuster, 27, agreed with the protesters' message. "They should be a wakeup call to our politicians to legislate against the overcrowding and bring in laws that improve the quality of life of us residents," the hotel worker said.
The island's housing crisis is out of control, said Fuster, who, like many of his friends, lives with his parents.
"It is impossible to live independently on our salaries," said Fuster, who is employed only for eight months of the year. He recognises the benefits of attracting visitors to the island where he has grown up. "But every year we have record numbers of people coming. The demand doesn't stop."
Such issues are not just confined to Spain. Surging visitor numbers, soaring housing prices and the rise of selfie-seeking tourists have helped to create situations that are "totally out of balance", a Unesco official has said, adding that a failure to address these issues could see protests like those seen in Spain extend across Europe.
From Málaga to Mallorca and Gran Canaria to Granada, tens of thousands of protesters have taken to the streets in recent weeks. Organisers have stressed that the protests are not against tourism, but rather a call for a more balanced approach.
This story is from the August 16, 2024 edition of The Guardian Weekly.
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This story is from the August 16, 2024 edition of The Guardian Weekly.
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