Tourism on the island of Ibiza is causing serious issues for locals, as the rising cost of housing is pricing many people out of being able to live on the island. Campaigners from Prou Ibiza are protesting this weekend, calling for authorities to limit the number of tourist beds in order to address the housing crisis. Nurses and police officers are reportedly living in cars and caravans, and medical procedures are being delayed because doctors can’t afford to live on the island. Rafael Jimenez, a spokesperson for Prou Ibiza, emphasizes that they are not against tourism itself, but rather the negative impacts it is having on the local community’s ability to afford housing.
Some Spaniards, such as teacher Karla Andrade, are choosing to fly back and forth to Ibiza for work rather than pay the high rent on the island. Andrade, who works in Ibiza, has moved to Palma in Mallorca and takes 40 flights a month to get to work. The rising cost of housing is also affecting public services on the island, as there are not enough people to work in these essential roles. The Balearic Islands, which include Ibiza, attracted 17.8 million tourists last year and tourism generates a significant portion of the islands’ economic activity.
The issue of mass tourism and its negative impacts is not unique to Ibiza, as other popular destinations in Spain are also experiencing growing discontent from locals. In Tenerife, locals are said to be sleeping in cars and caves due to the housing demand from tourism organizations. In the city of Málaga, residents have expressed frustration with tourists through stickers saying things like “go home” and “stinking of tourist”. In Menorca, limiting visiting hours in response to bad behavior from tourists has become necessary in certain tourist areas.
The protests in Ibiza are part of a larger trend of locals pushing back against the pressures of growing tourist numbers across Spain. Campaigners like Rafael Jimenez are advocating for better regulations to protect the interests of the local community and ensure that the negative impacts of mass tourism are mitigated. The economic benefits of tourism in these popular destinations must be balanced with the needs of residents and the preservation of local cultures and communities. It remains to be seen how authorities will respond to these calls for change and whether sustainable solutions can be found to address the challenges posed by the tourism industry in Spain.
