The Balearic Islands—a group of Spanish islands in the Mediterranean that form an autonomous community—include Mallorca, Ibiza, Menorca, and Formentera. Known for their stunning beaches, vibrant nightlife, and natural landscapes, the islands have in recent years become especially popular among European tourists and often suffer from overcrowding, particularly during the summer season.
According to the Guardian, in an attempt to offset the effects of overtourism, local authorities had hoped influencers, many with hundreds of thousands of followers, could help ease pressure on high-traffic areas by encouraging visitors to explore alternative spots.
But the strategy backfired. Isolated and environmentally sensitive areas were flooded with people who showed up mainly to snap selfies, post on social media, and quickly move on. “It had the opposite effect of what was intended, and it contradicts the government’s policy to curb mass tourism,” a spokesperson for the Balearic tourism board said over the weekend.
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The case of Caló des Moro, a small scenic beach in southeast Mallorca, exemplifies the damage caused by influencer-fueled overtourism. Designed to accommodate around 100 people, the beach has become an out-of-control Instagram sensation. In a June press conference, Maria Pons, the mayor of nearby Santanyí, revealed that 4,000 people and 1,200 vehicles now descend on the tiny bay every day. She urged journalists and travel platforms to “never mention the place again,” and the local authority has since removed all images of the beach from its official website.
Ibiza has also begun taking action. According to the Independent, in March, residents blocked car access to the popular Es Vedrà viewpoint with large rocks, after the site became a hotspot for wild selfie parties. Authorities then shut down unauthorized parking lots and posted signs reading “no entry.”
Spain is expected to break tourism records this summer, after welcoming nearly 100 million visitors last year. Protests over the consequences of mass tourism are already surfacing, particularly over rising living costs and skyrocketing housing prices. Last month, in one incident in Barcelona, tourists were attacked with water guns.
And last weekend, tens of thousands of people marched across the Canary Islands under slogans like “Mass tourism is making us homeless” and “The Canary Islands are not for sale.” The islands, home to about 2.2 million residents, broke a record last year with 17 million tourist arrivals.