Take Skift
Mallorca authorities are trying to respond to locals’ frustration with mass tourism by cracking down on short-term rentals.
David Habtemariam
Mallorca saw a decline in short-term rental bookings in July as a result of stricter regulations and widespread protests against overtourism.
Authorities have tightened new restrictions this year and imposed “hefty” fines on apartment buildings with 12 or more short-term rental units, said Bram Gallagher, economic expert at AirDNA.
According to AirDNA, bookings for short-term rentals in Palma have fallen by 8% compared to last year, with listings down by 12%.
Thousands demonstrated on the streets of Palma de Mallorca this summer, demanding a curb on mass tourism. Protesters blamed short-term rentals for the decline in housing supply and making the city unaffordable for locals.
Bookings have also increased in other Spanish destinations. According to AirDNA, bookings for short-term rentals in Barcelona rose by 5 percent. In Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Santa Cruz de la Palma in the Canary Islands, bookings rose by 17 and 30 percent respectively.
Traveler interest in short-term rentals, especially in cities, has grown in recent years. According to Skift Research’s latest State of Travel report, demand for short-term rentals in urban destinations with the highest supply grew 21% in 2023.
Increasing demand for travel to Spain
Mallorca is growing in popularity as an international tourist destination in Spain, which is enjoying a record year for tourism. International arrivals to Mallorca increased by 6 percent in July and August, according to ForwardKeys, a travel data company.
Spain was one of Europe’s most popular tourist destinations this year, with nearly 43 million visitors in the first six months. Mass demonstrations against overtourism took place in Barcelona, Malaga, the Canary Islands and Menorca.
