They don't want tourists in the country! 10 thousand people took to the streets with giant banners.

The reactions against tourists are growing in Spain. Tourism opponents continue to organize a series of protests this year in popular holiday destinations such as Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, Malaga, and the Canary Islands; they say that tourists are increasing housing costs and preventing local residents from living in city centers.

Most recently, a protest was held in Mallorca on Sunday with the participation of 10,000 people. Some tourists also supported the protests.

"TOURISTS MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR LOCALS"

Pere Joan Femenia from Menys Turisme Mas Vida (Less Tourism, More Life), who organized the protest in Mallorca on Sunday, said that the protesters want fewer tourists on the island; "Mass tourism makes it difficult for local people who cannot afford to live on their own islands because tourists increase prices. Tourists fill the beaches and put a strain on public services during the summer months. We want to cut mass tourism and ban people living abroad from buying homes for only a few months a year."

16 MILLION TOURISTS VISITED

The National Institute of Statistics in Spain said that the Balearic Islands were the second most popular region in Spain for tourists last year after Catalonia, attracting 14.4 million holidaymakers. In the first quarter of this year, 16.1 million people visited Spain, an 18% increase compared to the same period last year. While visitors spent 109 billion euros in Spain last year, this figure was 63.5 billion euros in France.