Thousands of people start the great demonstration against tourist saturation

PalmaIt was already foreseen for many reasons: citizen weariness due to over-tourism and a growing indignation fueled by the repression practiced by the Civil Guard against two young women arrested in Santa Maria after painting five real estate agencies. Thousands of people fill the streets of Palma from long before 7 p.m., the time of the official call, and shout "Enough saturation" and “For a Mallorca and islands where one can live”.

The event, convened by Menys Turisme, Més Vida and GOB, and with more than a hundred affiliated entities, takes over from previous demonstrations that had already been massive. However, the leaders of these entities consider that, given "the total inaction of the Government" in limiting tourism and its impacts, anger is growing and today's demonstration is on its way to being one of the most important in recent times.

Just a month ago, thousands of people already filled the Trenc beach to denounce that the Executive had lowered the legal requirements to modify the Natural Park, a move that environmentalists have interpreted as the first step in a deregulation of this emblematic space. It was at that moment that it became clear that there was enormous citizen discontent which, despite the Government's attempts to launch different initiatives, the end result is rather poor.

The demonstration began in Plaça d'Espanya, is now winding through Avingudes, and from there goes to Baró de Pinopar, La Rambla, Riera, Unió, Passeig del Born, Plaça de la Reina, Antoni Maura, to end at Parc de la Mar, where the reading of a list of demands is scheduled. The vice-president of GOB, Tonina Siquier, has already said in the hours leading up to the event that "we are not satisfied with good words and good intentions. This time we will formally request a meeting with the President of the Government because I believe we have reached an unsustainable situation, and we cannot continue looking the other way," she said.