Ibiza Residents Protest Overtourism Amid Growing Frustration

Recently, a protest took place on Ibiza, where around 100 residents gathered to stage an occupation of a beach in response to overtourism. The demonstration occurred at Cala Saladeta, a well-known tourist spot, and was organized by the Ibiza Youth Association, a local youth group.

Ibiza, a part of Spain’s Balearic Islands located in the Mediterranean Sea, is a popular destination for tourists. During the summer months, the island sees a significant increase in population. According to the Balearic Islands Statistics Institute, nearly 1.2 million tourists visited Ibiza in the second quarter of 2025. The residents rallied against the crowding caused by tourists, with activists distributing watermelon as an appeal for the enjoyment of public spaces by locals.

The protesters released a manifesto expressing concerns that local culture and lands are increasingly being overshadowed by tourist attractions. They criticized a tourism model that favors wealthy visitors, arguing this has driven up housing and living costs, making them unaffordable for residents. The group emphasized their frustration that young locals cannot enjoy the island as tourists do, due to spaces being occupied by visitors from an ‘extractive tourism model’ that impacts their quality of life and increases precarity.

The manifesto highlighted specific areas of the island, such as the coves, which are frequented by tourists during the summer. The residents wished to reclaim these spots as tranquil spaces for their use. They called for a return to clean and peaceful coves and expressed their desire to reclaim places of tranquility, even during peak seasons.

In reaction to these protests, Ibiza Island Council President Vicent Marí stated that the island has been at the forefront of tackling tourist overcrowding. The demonstration reflects broader issues concerning mass tourism across Spain. Similar tensions have emerged in other tourist hotspots like Barcelona, where residents have opposed overcrowding by spraying visitors with water guns. In Mallorca, viral incidents have highlighted pickpocketing aimed at tourists near Palma.