10 Tourism is killing us. I'm not saying it, economists are. Until now, this was a taboo. The economic academy, with a clearly neoliberal tendency, insisted on selling us tourism as the golden goose, thanks to which we all live and don't starve. There are still people who, when you criticize the tourist model, respond: "And you, what do you live on?". We are not talking about tourism in general, but about the current system of tourist monoculture and limitless growth that we suffer from, the model that is killing us. First, due to evidence that became apparent during the pandemic. When I took the Political Economy course, we learned that a monoculture economic system (like the tourism monoculture) is a weak system, exposed to uncontrollable external factors, such as pandemics, geopolitical crises, and fluctuations in transport prices, among others. In the case of tourism, we also depend on the good economic performance of the emitting countries, and let's not forget climate change and rising temperatures. Who will want to come and suffer scorching summers? First lesson: For an economy to be strong, it cannot put all its eggs in one basket; it must diversify. Less tourism and more development of other economic sectors. Secondly, this model, if it once served to improve the Balearic economy, is now impoverishing and expelling the resident population. The Fènix Report (coordinated by Xavier Roig) has just been presented. Although the document was initially focused on Catalonia, its authors maintain that the tourism economy of the Islands is an extreme example of what they denounce, an economy that generates macroeconomic growth, but which impoverishes residents and reduces productivity. The Balearic Islands are increasing their global GDP and population, but GDP per capita and the quality of life of their citizens are not improving. The continuity of this model not only poses technical challenges – such as access to housing, the availability of natural resources, and the sustainability of public services – but also generates general impoverishment and can lead to a growing social fracture, placing us at a crossroads: either structural reforms are adopted to correct current dynamics, or the risk of progressive deterioration of the economic model is assumed. These economists have not been the first to say this. It is fair to mention the Consell Econòmic i Social de les Illes Balears (CES), the collegiate body for participation, study, deliberation, advice, and proposal in economic and social matters, according to the Statute of Autonomy, because in its reports it had already denounced the impoverishment of the Balearic Islands, even though no one, starting with the governments that should be the main recipients of its reports, paid any attention. According to the CES, the Islands are the community that has most impoverished itself in the last twenty-five years. Despite the good macroeconomic figures, household disposable income is falling notably, and we are the territory where it is most difficult to acquire housing. Despite the Balearic Government's effort to decouple the housing problem from tourism, there is a direct relationship. That increased demand causes prices to rise is a fundamental principle of economics. Before, housing was for living. Now it is for tourist rental, second homes for non-resident foreigners, for renting rooms (often abusively, without a contract, without rights, and without a receipt), an investment and speculation asset for vulture funds, etc. According to the Bank of Spain, 10.6% of the total housing stock in the Balearic Islands are tourist homes and those owned by non-residents. In the urban area of Palma, tourist use dwellings represent 7.6% of the rental market, and we assume this refers just to 'legal' rentals. The PP government uses the housing problem as an excuse to destroy territory, but it is tourism where we must look. The tourism that expropriates our homes and rights, as we see now with tourism sector workers and the war on false 'absenteeism' launched by the employers' association. Therefore, we invite you to the demonstration on July 26 called by the Platform Less Tourism, More Life. We want another possible economy at the service of citizens and not of tourism companies, with housing, labor rights, where the territory, natural resources, water are preserved. United, combative and joyful, no one will stop us. Less tourism, more life. 

]]>