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Tourist hot spot faces housing revolt as locals demand cuts to vacation lodging
Mallorca’s small-business federation has called for limits on tourist accommodation, arguing that the island needs to curb visitor numbers and ease pressure on residents. Its president, Jordi Mora, says the goal should be a more sustainable tourism model that brings wider benefits to society.
The proposal would reduce registered holiday rentals and step up action against illegal lets. Mallorca received about 13.5 million visitors in 2025, and thousands protested tourism growth in June that year. Local tourism officials have also advocated attracting fewer visitors who spend more: in July, US tourists in Spain spent about $410 a day on average, compared with $260 for British visitors and $240 for German visitors.
In short
- Mallorca business leader calls for fewer tourist beds.
- The island received about 13.5 million visitors in 2025.
- Officials favour higher-value tourism that benefits residents.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Supporters argue that Mallorca’s visitor numbers and holiday rentals are worsening pressure on housing and residents’ quality of life, while the gains from tourism are not shared widely enough. Limiting registered lets and enforcing rules against illegal ones could ease those pressures and encourage a more sustainable model that attracts fewer, higher-spending visitors.
The case against
Critics could argue that restricting holiday rentals risks reducing income for property owners and small businesses, as well as jobs and customer spending tied to tourism. They may favour tackling housing pressures through other measures and improving enforcement without broadly limiting a major source of livelihoods, while warning that visitor numbers and spending patterns do not alone show tourism’s overall value to the island.