Sóller will host a protest against overtourism this Saturday, 8th August, organised by Movimiento Joven de Sóller and Menos Turismo, Més Vida. The demonstration will begin at 10:00 am in Plaça dels Estiradors and will lead to restrictions affecting terraces, shops, the street market and parking in several streets in the town centre.
Sóller will see a new protest against overtourism this Saturday, 8th August. Movimiento Joven de Sóller and Menos Turismo, Més Vida have called a demonstration through the streets of the municipality to demand measures in response to what the organisations describe as a growing process of touristification.
The demonstration will begin at 10:00 am in Plaça dels Estiradors and will pass through several streets in central Sóller. Ahead of the protest, the Town Council has announced a series of security measures ordered by the Government Delegation and agreed with the security forces.
Time and route of the Sóller demonstration
The demonstration is scheduled to begin at 10:00 am from Plaça dels Estiradors. The route will affect Santa Teresa Street, sa Lluna Street and Plaça de la Constitució, as well as the starting area itself.
The organisers say the protest aims to highlight several problems associated with tourism pressure in Sóller. These include a lack of public transport and parking in contrast to the high number of rental cars, the proliferation of properties used for holiday rentals, property speculation and the transformation of traditional local shops into businesses primarily aimed at tourists.
The demonstration forms part of a series of protests that in recent years have placed Mallorca’s tourism model and its impact on housing, mobility and everyday life at the centre of public debate.
Restrictions between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm
Due to the demonstration, between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm no items will be permitted to occupy public space along the affected route and in several surrounding streets.
The measure applies to terraces, commercial displays, stalls, the street market and craft stands. The municipal notice specifically lists, among other areas, sa Lluna Street, Plaça de la Constitució, Avinguda Cristòfol Colom, Avinguda Jeroni Estades, Plaça d’Espanya, Plaça del Mercat, Born Street and Bauçà Street.
This does not mean that shops, bars, restaurants or other establishments are required to close. Businesses may remain open whenever circumstances allow, but during this period they will not be permitted to occupy public space and any affected items must be kept inside the premises.
Vehicles must be removed from the route
The security arrangements also require parked vehicles to be removed from certain areas along the route of the demonstration.
Specifically, the Town Council has identified Santa Teresa Street, the dels Estiradors area and Es Celler as locations where parked vehicles must be removed before the demonstration.
The Town Council has explained that these measures are intended to guarantee safety and facilitate the smooth running of the demonstration.
Additional healthcare provision for the demonstration
Sóller Town Council has also discussed the healthcare arrangements planned for Saturday with the municipality’s Health Centre.
Councillor for Health Lluís Cerezo held a coordination meeting with healthcare officials in anticipation of a large number of people in the municipality, both for the demonstration on 8th August and, a few days later, for the solar eclipse on 12th August.
Regarding the demonstration, the Town Council raised its concerns with both healthcare officials and the Local Security Board. According to the municipal information, the Government Delegation will formally request that, during the hours of the protest, the Sóller Health Centre receives additional healthcare professionals and reinforced SAMU-061 ambulance services.
The Town Council stressed that these measures are purely preventive and are intended to guarantee a rapid response to any possible incident.
Town Council calls for respect during the protest
In its statement on the security measures, Sóller Town Council said it fully respects the right to demonstrate and freedom of expression, while also acknowledging the concerns of restaurant owners, shopkeepers and craftspeople about the scale the demonstration has reached.
The Town Council has expressed its hope that the protest will take place “with respect” and without disturbances, allowing its organisers to convey their message.
The demonstration will therefore begin this Saturday, 8th August, at 10:00 am in Plaça dels Estiradors, with restrictions on the use of public space scheduled to remain in place until 2:00 pm in several streets in central Sóller.
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