Protests Ignite Tourism Panic in Mallorca
People on Mallorca are realizing the real price of anti-tourism protests — and it’s not what many locals expected. While chants and banners against overcrowding once filled the streets, a new fear is creeping in: what if the tourists don’t come back?
This year saw a paradoxical spike in cruise arrivals. In just one week, 23 giant vessels dropped nearly 60,000 passengers into Palma. That’s a 21% jump compared to 2024. Crowds swelled, sparking fresh frustration. The eco-minded MÉS per Palma party didn’t hesitate to push for tougher measures, proposing a daily cap — two cruise ships and max 6,000 tourists a day. But while those plans crawl through the system, the cruise giants are making their own decisions.
Cruise Operators Take Matters Into Their Own Hands
Fed up with protests, cruise companies now prefer the calm of Malta and Barcelona over the uncertain welcome in Palma. According to Pedro Fiol, who heads Aviba, the main travel agencies association, cruise lines are holding their own referendums — with their ships. Winter cruise season could turn bleak for Mallorca as these floating hotels simply skip the stop. That might sound like sweet relief for some critics, but for tour guides, cafe owners, and drivers, it’s a nightmare scenario.
It’s a sharp pivot after years of rising anti-tourist sentiment. In 2025, angry crowds filled Palma’s Plaza España, demanding action against overtourism. Their arguments were clear: quality of life, rising rents, and overflowing streets. Still, the industry’s reaction has shocked many. Major cruise lines are rerouting and warning smaller arrivals could be permanent if attitudes on shore don’t improve.
The numbers remain big for now: some 551 cruise ships and nearly 1.8 million passengers are still set for 2025. Yet industry insiders say the tide has begun to turn. Out-of-season business — when island shops, taxi drivers, and souvenir stalls depend most on visitors — could dry up fastest. Even those who once cheered for fewer tourists now face a bitter trade-off: empty streets and quieter ports may mean struggling livelihoods, not the peaceful paradise they’d imagined.
This twist was hard to imagine just a few seasons ago. Mallorca’s reputation as a party-friendly, sun-soaked escape attracted cruise ships by the dozen each week. But anti-tourism anger, once aimed at restoring balance, might end up tipping the scales in ways the island never wanted.