Anti-tourism groups in Mallorca are facing backlash after publishing guidance encouraging protesters to target businesses in the tourism industry. Groups Menys Turisme, Més Vida, whose name translates to ‘Less Tourism, More Life’, and Arran Mallorca have released a ‘Manual for Action Against Touristification’.The guide details how supporters can identify possible targets of ‘non-violent direct action’ against what it says is ‘a system that is suffocating us’.Tourism signage, estate agents and hotels are all encouraged as potential places to act against – with guidance including suggestions to block key boxes for holiday rentals. Protesters are recommended to plan out escape routes, scope out the area before they approach and avoid security cameras, Majorca Daily Bulletin reports. Clothing guidance is also mentioned, with anti-tourism members urged to cover their face and wear loose clothes in dark colours. Anti-tourism groups in Mallorca have released a manual encouraging protesters to target businesses in the tourism industry. Pictured: Thousands taking to the streets with banners and signs in widespread protests, October 2024Protesters are also advised to cover up distinguishable features such as tattoos, birthmarks and piercings.The guide goes on to outline how participants should plan their roles beforehand, deciding carefully who might be a lookout, while another protester carries out the ‘action’.Photographs of the acts of protests are also being encouraged so they can be shared on social media. However, the manual has received backlash from several tourism giants in the Balearics.The Majorca Hoteliers Federation, the College of Estate Agents and the Confederation of Balearic Business Associations (CAEB) have all condemned the action. According to Majorca Daily Bulletin, the hotel federation said: ‘There are many ways to defend an idea, but not all ways of doing so are valid.’ It argued the guidance goes from a disagreement to ‘vandalism and sabotage’.José Miguel ArtiedaMean, president of the College of Estate Agents, added: ‘This does not contribute to public debate; it fuels a climate of confrontation that benefits no one.’Meanwhile, the CAEB argues the guidance encourages intimidating action, describing it as unjustified. It comes just before planned demonstrations against overtourism across the Balearic Islands, scheduled to go ahead on July 26. Indeed, the manual’s publication comes just days after approximately 10,000 people waded into the sea at a well-known beauty spot on the island to call for better protection of the coast and natural attractions. Earlier this month many protesters took to the water to discourage the mass tourism in the regionThey fear a relaxation of planning rules will open the door for the construction of new hotels and apartments, as well as new car parks, power lines and the extraction of sand.The demonstration included the formation of a huge human chain.Organisations including the ecology group GOB, Terraferida and the Menys Turisme Menys Vida platform gathered at the natural beach of S’Arenal de sa Ràpita to protest over the Balearic government’s ‘destructive’ policies.They want greater protection for natural areas. They fear politicians will ruin Es Trenc natural park and beach, saying they do not believe officials who promise it ‘will not be touched, even one metre’.’Who wants Mallorca does not destroy it,’ they chanted. ‘We are not asking for utopias but for concrete and urgent measures for the common good.’Tonina Siquier, vice-president of the GOB, said the demonstration was a ‘resounding success that exceeded all forecasts.’She explained they were in Es Trenc to protect the natural space and regretted having to repeat ‘demonstrations of these characteristics, more typical of other decades.’President of the Balearic government, Marga Prohens, described the warnings about the alleged lack of protection as ‘hoaxes’ and the Minister of Agriculture, Joan Simonet, recorded a video in the area guaranteeing protection.The protests have been occurring over recent years, and back in May scores of fed–up locals took part in demonstrations across the archipelago from 11am, including in Tenerife.Dozens of armed officers from the National Police were seen on patrol, while ‘terrified’ tourists stayed inside their hotels.One holidaymaker visiting from Ireland said he was too scared to leave his Airbnb. A demonstration taking place in Tenerife, back in May last year, against the tourism model in place across the countryAlberto Babo, 32, previously told the Daily Mail: ‘I didn’t go out today due to the protests, I’m stuck in my Airbnb to avoid the crowds.’I hope they are not violent or anything but just to be safe I’m here. All I can hear is the noise.’Protesters were heard blowing through enormous shells to make a loud, horn-like noise, while banging on drums.Slogans being chanted included: ‘El dinero del turismo, donde está?’, meaning ‘The money from tourism, where is it?’In October 2024, demonstrators stormed a Tenerife beach during another anti–mass tourism demo.The surreal scenes occurred after hundreds of protesters diverted from their planned seafront route in Playa de las Americas in the south of the island and ended up taking over Troya Beach.