Palma Residents Reclaim Public Spaces Amid Overtourism Crisis

• Residents of Palma de Mallorca are organizing weekly grassroots community dinners called 'sopars a la llesca' to reclaim public spaces from mass tourism.
• The initiative aims to combat the displacement of locals, rising housing costs, and the commercialization of the city center.

Objectives of the Movement

• Led by local collectives like 'Brunzzit', the dinners serve as a platform for residents to express frustration over the gentrification of their city.
• Participants argue that central areas of Palma have become inaccessible to locals, dominated by luxury tourism and high-priced leisure venues.
• Despite a high number of vacant homes, new luxury developments continue to displace residents, driving the cost of living to some of the highest levels in Spain.

Political and Institutional Challenges

• Local authorities and the police have attempted to suppress these gatherings, often citing security concerns or using bureaucratic obstacles to deny permits.
• Activists report that permits are frequently delayed or denied at the last minute, making it difficult to host community events.
• Residents criticize government measures—such as minor caps on cruise ship passengers—as insufficient, while infrastructure projects like airport expansions continue to fuel tourism growth.