Tourist overcrowding and human pressure are giving the Balearic Islands no respite.

PalmAlthough the mantra of containment has reached even the most reluctant sectors to impose limitations, such as the business sector, the Balearic Islands continue to break records for tourist arrivals, population growth and human pressure - the paradox this year is that the increase in tourists does not translate into in increasing income in some sectors, such as restaurants. Beyond cashing in, this is the third tourist season since the beginning of the legislature in which containment measures have not been applied while problems continue to fester—the main one being access to housing, but overcrowding is reaching even the smallest aspects of residents' lives.

On the one hand, the Balearic Islands received 6.4 million tourists between January and June 2025, representing a 4.1% increase compared to the first half of 2024, according to data from the National Institute of Statistics (INE). In June alone, there were almost 2.3 million international tourists, 3% more than the same month last year. The total figure for June was 2.7 million visitors (data from Ibestat), 2.3% more than in 2024. If the trend continues to rise, this year a new record of tourists will be broken in the Islands (in 2024 there were 18.7 million visitors and in 2023, of the Pact for Sustainability. The Government indicated in June that this initiative was entering the proposal phase and that It will be the Social Dialogue Table (employers' associations and unions) will be the ones to study them, not the committee of experts initially announced. In fact, not a single name of any member of this committee has ever been revealed, and it has now been ruled out. Furthermore, any proposals that do move forward will do so without any participation from civil society or opposition parties.

Furthermore, human pressure is growing stronger month by month. A new record was broken in May In the Balearic Islands, with 1.8 million people on the 30th, 1.27% more than the peak human pressure in May 2024. Throughout the month, the figure did not fall below 1.6 million people and the average was 1.7 million.

The Balearic Islands reached more than 1,251,000 inhabitants in July, a new population record, marked by the arrival of foreigners. The foreign-born resident population in the Balearic Islands grew by 1% compared to last year, according to data from the INE (National Institute of Statistics and Census).

Thus, and despite the Government's rhetoric, it seems that the Balearic Islands have not yet reached their limit and that the growth in the number of people is unstoppable, both in terms of visitors and residents. For the moment, the Executive's commitment is focused on combating illegal supply, while measures such as raising the eco-tax (ITS) during the high season have been left behind. In any case, experts consulted by ARA Baleares have indicated that raising the ITS (Spanish Tax on Income) would not be a deterrent measure if a significant increase is not implemented.