13 Feb, 2025 @ 11:45
1 min read

Homeless crisis hits Mallorca’s hotspots as spate of thefts reported at Palma airport ahead of Spain’s tourist season

Migrants in Spain claim Barcelona is paying for their train tickets to Valencia as homelessness rises
ROUGH SLEEPER, BARCELONA

THE Balearic’s ongoing housing crisis is causing homeless people to seek shelter in makeshift homes around the islands, including Palma Airport terminal and abandoned hotels in tourist areas.

The capital Palma has seen around 20 homeless settlements emerge, with camps appearing in prime locations including Can Pastilla beachfront and Paseo Mallorca in the city centre.

Meanwhile in Cala Bona squatters occupied an apartment hotel, raising concerns in the region’s crucial hospitality sector. 

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Homeless Man G14b11b654 1920
Homeless tent cities and makeshift shelters are springing up all over Mallorca as the housing crisis forces people out of their homes

A similar situation continues in Cala d’Or, where several apartments in an abandoned block have been occupied since the pandemic.

Local charity Metges del Mon has called for urgent action from authorities as the crisis spreads beyond Palma to major population centers and tourist zones across the island.

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The problem is expected to worsen as the tourist season approaches and homes are converted into tourist apartments, further straining the already limited housing supply. 

High rental prices, scarce affordable housing, and increasing job insecurity have forced many locals to seek shelter in bank offices, abandoned buildings, and even the airport terminal, where people congregate near power outlets and bathrooms at night.

Meanwhile, passengers and businesses are being urged to report all thefts by the community of homeless people who live in the terminal buildings at Palma’s airport. 

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The policewarning has come after a spate of thefts targeting airport bars, cafes and passengers in check-in and boarding areas, with alcohol being the most commonly stolen item.

Security has been ramped up in both departure and arrival halls as authorities try to tackle what they describe as ‘a general sense of insecurity’ ahead of the busy tourism season. 

The current situation marks a significant change from last year, when a small homeless community lived at the airport without causing problems. 

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Airport management says it regularly notifies social services about individuals needing support, but has now been forced to take firmer action to address the thefts.

“The softly-softly approach has had to change,” a spokesperson said, amid concerns that the airport’s homeless population could continue to grow if left unchecked.

Click here to read more Balearic Islands News from The Olive Press.

Walter Finch

Walter Finch, is the Digital Editor of the Olive Press and occasional roaming photographer who started out at the Daily Mail.
Born in London but having lived in six countries, he is well-travelled and worldly. He studied Philosophy at the University of Birmingham and earned his NCTJ diploma in journalism from London's renowned News Associates during the Covid era.
He got his first break working on the Foreign News desk of the Daily Mail's online arm, where he also helped out on the video desk due to previous experience as a camera operator and filmmaker.
He then decided to escape the confines of London and returned to Spain in 2022, having previously lived in Barcelona for many years.

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