Pere Joan Femenia, of Menys Turisme, Mas Vida (Less Tourism, More Life), which organised Sunday’s protest, told the Telegraph: “What we want is to change the tourism model which is overwhelming the island. We cannot live here because house prices are so high. Beaches are swamped by tourists and public services are under incredible strain.”
The 25-year-old student said protesters wanted a ban on foreign non-residents owning properties on the island because, he said, this made buying properties impossible for local people as it raised property prices.
Before the demonstration, a spokesman for the Balearic Islands’ regional government appealed for no repetition of the behaviour at a protest in Barcelona earlier this month when tourists were squirted with water pistols.
At a demonstration in Majorca in May, which attracted 10,000 people, some tourists were jeered by demonstrators but organisers later apologised.