More than 100 anti-tourist protesters occupied Cala Saladeta in Ibiza on Sunday, laying out towels across the beach in a demonstration against what they described as the island’s overcrowded summer tourism model.
The action was organised by the Associació de Joves d’Eivissa, which staged a ‘xindriada’ — a watermelon-sharing gathering — at the cove in the municipality of Sant Antoni de Portmany.
Participants displayed signs, read a manifesto and took part in volleyball, games and other activities. Local reports said the group occupied around three-quarters of the beach for several hours in an attempt to reclaim a space they said was normally dominated by visitors during the summer.
The organisers said their protest was not directed at tourism itself, but at the scale and impact of mass tourism. They called for a more sustainable model and argued that residents should be able to use Ibiza’s beaches and public spaces throughout the year.
In the manifesto, the group claimed that rising tourism and luxury development had contributed to soaring housing and living costs, particularly for young people living on the island. It also accused the island’s councils, the Ibiza Island Council and the Balearic Government of ignoring local identity and the pressures placed on residents.
The association said Cala Saladeta had been chosen because it was one of Ibiza’s most heavily tourist-focused beaches and offered a symbolic setting for the demonstration. It called for the island’s coves to become “clean and peaceful” again, and said the answer was not to extend the tourist season but to reduce visitor numbers during the summer.
The protest was supported by environmental group GEN-GOB, which said it welcomed young islanders speaking out in favour of a more sustainable and liveable Ibiza. The youth association is also preparing a further action opposing plans to expand Ibiza Airport.
