Panic in Spain as Majorca rages at number of Brits - 'tourism will kill us all'

Tensions over mass tourism in Majorca are spilling into open conflict, with local protests now being blamed for driving British holidaymakers away and hurting the island's economy.

For months, grassroots groups have staged dramatic demonstrations in Palma and beyond, warning that unchecked visitor numbers are damaging daily life. One activist from SOS Residentes summed up the growing frustration bluntly. "Tourism is an easy way to earn money, but the easy way will kill us all," they told The Telegraph.

This summer saw a string of "dinner party protests," where locals occupied busy squares normally packed with restaurants and tourists. Instead of café terraces, demonstrators laid out plastic tables, picnic blankets and even cooked paella in public, declaring the space reclaimed for residents.

Similar actions on beaches highlighted how housing shortages, traffic congestion, water scarcity and waste have all worsened under the weight of more than 18 million annual arrivals.

But while campaigners say their fight is about safeguarding the island's future, business groups warn the rhetoric is already doing serious damage.

CAEB, the association representing employers across the Balearic Islands, said bar and restaurant takings have plummeted since May, with beach operators and parasol hire companies reporting a 20 per cent drop in July compared with last year.

Adopuma, the association representing beach concessions, accused protesters of fuelling hostility toward visitors, particularly British tourists who make up one of Majorca's biggest markets.

"The island's economy is being pushed to breaking point," the group warned, calling September a make-or-break month to "save the season."

Authorities have promised to explore more sustainable tourism models, pivoting toward "higher-quality" visitors rather than mass arrivals.

Yet plans to expand Palma airport to handle up to 19 million passengers a year have only deepened suspicions among campaigners that politicians are prioritising profit over residents.

For now, the island remains divided. Tourists strolling through Palma often mistake the demonstrations for cultural festivals, while locals insist their message is far more urgent: without reform, they fear Majorca risks becoming unliveable for its own people.