Mallorca (Spain) under international media scrutiny over tourist overcrowdi

Mallorca (Spain) under international media scrutiny over tourist overcrowding

20-08-25

Mallorca once again finds itself at the center of international media attention. In recent months, leading outlets from Germany, France, the United Kingdom, and the Nordic countries have focused on the island’s tourism model, warning that overcrowding is taking a toll both on the quality of the destination and on the daily lives of its residents. With around 13.5 million visitors in 2024 — including nearly 5 million German tourists — the reality of a local population of under one million reveals an imbalance that is eroding both the travel experience and the everyday well-being of those who live there.

Publications such as Der Spiegel, along with Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung and Süddeutsche Zeitung, agree that “Mallorca no longer offers the same experience,” stressing how pressure on the rental market, environmental damage, and the collapse of certain critical services are undermining the island’s appeal as a tourist destination. Even Bild has featured examples of German tourists who, once frequent visitors, now choose not to return due to the level of saturation and the deterioration of the natural environment.

Television networks such as Tagesschau and ARD echo the same concerns, having interviewed long-time travelers to Mallorca who now admit they no longer feel comfortable being part of what they describe as a “tourist collapse.” In the United Kingdom, outlets like the BBC and The Guardian portray Mallorca as a striking example of the paradoxes of mass tourism, while in France, Le Monde warns of the risk that the island could lose its reputation as a natural and cultural haven.

An analysis carried out by the Fundament association between 2019 and the present — and accessed by Última Hora — shows that the issue has structural roots and is far from a temporary circumstance. Frank Hoeft, the association’s president, states that the problem lies in “the inability to manage flows,” and that the current unsustainable model compromises the future stability of the destination. Hoeft advocates for establishing a maximum cap on visitors as a way to address the situation: “It’s not about blaming the tourist, but about acknowledging that this ecosystem is reaching its limits.”

This shift in perception has fueled public debate and sparked local protests, while also attracting growing media attention that demands an urgent review of the current tourism system. As Hoeft points out, “Degrowth sounds negative, but it is the only possible way” to restore balance, local quality of life, and the island’s reputation as a sustainable destination. Meanwhile, Mallorca continues to make international headlines questioning its viability as a ready-made model for contemporary tourism.

Report abuse