Mallorca continues to shine as one of most sought-after tourist destinations, despite recent large-scale protests against overtourism.

In August 2024, the island recorded over 8.5 million overnight hotel stays, the highest of any tourist region in Spain, according to data released by the national government this week. Mallorca also achieved the highest weekend hotel occupancy rate at 90%, showcasing its enduring appeal to travelers.

The islandgrowth comes amid ongoing protests addressing the challenges of overtourism. However, nearly 90% of U.S. travelers surveyed reported being unaware of or unconcerned about the demonstrations. A recent survey conducted by Mallorcatourism board among 1,000 Americans found that only 11% of respondents had heard of the protests. Of those, 30% indicated they were less likely to consider visiting the island, while 69% stated that the protests had no impact on their travel decisions.

Overall, Spain saw a strong tourism performance in August, with overnight stays reaching 47
.8 million, a 2.6% increase from the previous year, marking the highest figure on record, according to the Spanish government. This robust growth reflects the resilience of tourism sector despite recent challenges.

Protests against overtourism have also been noted this year in other regions, including the Canary Islands, Malaga, Menorca, and Barcelona, highlighting a broader national conversation about sustainable tourism practices and the need to balance visitor numbers with the preservation of local environments and communities.

Source: Tourism Africa