A manual against mass tourism ignites controversy with the tourist rental sector

PalmaThe Menys Turisme, Més Vida platform has disseminated a document on social networks titled Do it yourself! Action manual against touristification, in which it defends non-violent direct action against what it identifies as those responsible for the tourist overcrowding of the Islands. The collective justifies these actions as a response to a system that oppresses residents and links them to the demonstration called for next July 26.

The document proposes actions targeting tourist accommodation, real estate agencies, businesses related to the tourism sector, and other elements linked to this activity. It also encourages participants to document protests and disseminate them on social media.

The publication has provoked the reaction of the employers' association for tourist rentals in the Balearic Islands, Habtur. The tourist rental association expressed this Tuesday "deep concern" about the content of the manual and has called for a "unanimous and unequivocal" public condemnation of any initiative that promotes actions against companies or individuals.

In a statement, Habtur considers that the discrepancy over the tourism model "is legitimate and necessary", but maintains that it "can never lead to the normalization of actions aimed at intimidating people, pointing out businesses, or causing damage to private property". The entity also considers it particularly worrying that the publication includes recommendations aimed at avoiding the identification of participants during actions. The association recalls that behind tourist use homes, real estate agencies, and the rest of the pointed-out businesses there are "families, self-employed individuals, workers, and small business owners" who carry out their activity within the legal framework.

For this reason, Habtur requests that institutions and political forces condemn these types of publications, that it be studied whether the content may violate current legislation or constitute an incitement to commit illicit acts, that the protection of affected professionals and businesses be guaranteed, and that the debate on the tourism model be maintained "within democratic channels, mutual respect, and compliance with the law". The statement concludes that the tourist rental sector shares the need to seek solutions to the challenges facing the Balearic Islands, but rejects that this debate translate into campaigns of targeting individuals or businesses.

In the same vein, CAEB has expressed itself, stating its "absolute rejection" of the manual, considering that the call to intimidating actions against companies and individuals in the service sector "crosses all limits of coexistence" and "attacks the work and effort of the main economic engine of the Balearic Islands". The employers' association considers that these types of manifestos are "incendiary" and "totally unjustifiedly" put the business fabric in the spotlight. Likewise, CAEB urges the Spanish Government's delegation in the Balearic Islands to investigate this manifesto for "promoting violence".