Moment anti-tourist protesters in Spain ‘hold up’ sightseeing bus and set off flare | World | News
Protesters brought a sightseeing bus to a standstill in Palma, Majorca, as tensions mounted ahead of a fresh wave of anti-mass tourism demonstrations across Spain. Activists from the group Menys Turisme Mes Vida — “Less Tourism More Life” — surrounded the bus in an unannounced action, placing smoke flares around it and draping a large banner reading “Stop Touristification” across its front. Sympathisers held up posters that read: “For the Right To A Decent Life.”
Using a loudspeaker, a group member declared: “Today a sightseeing bus has been halted to denounce the touristification and commercialisation of our island and to invite everyone to tomorrow’s demonstration. We denounce a tourist monoculture that is destroying our land and puts the interests of tourists before those of local residents, because we’re tired and because we’re prepared to break the tourist norms.”
He added: “There has to be a lot of us tomorrow, demonstrating for the right to a decent life. Let’s stop touristification.”
It remains unclear how long the bus was held up. Unconfirmed reports suggest several holidaymakers disembarked during the protest.
The timing of the stunt — just 24 hours before a larger demonstration in Palma — will likely fuel concerns that activists intend to directly disrupt the tourist experience.
Last July, holidaymakers were sprayed with water pistols in Barcelona during a protest targeting what demonstrators called “tourist massification.” Foreign visitors dining on terraces in Palma’s Weyler Square were jeered by locals during two separate protests last year.
Fearing a repeat, senior officials on the island urged restraint. Ahead of the second Palma protest last July, regional government spokesman Antoni Costa pleaded with activists not to antagonise British tourists.
Referencing the water pistol incident in Barcelona, Mr Costa said: “There’s no fear because here it hasn’t happened and people have always been respectful.
“But we have seen a certain type of behaviour in Barcelona which, as you can imagine, we didn’t like.
“We ask for the utmost respect for those who have decided not to demonstrate and urge those who do protest to do so peacefully and not interrupt other citizens and visitors.”
Majorca remains one of the flashpoints in Spain’s increasingly vocal backlash against overtourism — blamed for rising rents, traffic congestion, pollution and the hollowing out of local communities.
Graffiti targeting holidaymakers has reappeared in several parts of the island. In May last year, “Tourist go home” was painted across signs leading to the Tramontana mountains. A month earlier, “Go home tourist” appeared on a wall below a real estate billboard in Nou Llevant, aimed at German nationals purchasing new-build flats in the area.
Other actions have included placing fake “closed” signs on popular beaches in an attempt to drive tourists away.
The young man seen addressing today’s protest is believed to be 16-year-old Jaume Pujol, a known activist with Menys Turisme Mes Vida.
