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Holidaymakers in the capital of Palma looked on as the angry crowd chanted "Without limits, there is no future" and "tourists go home". Spokeswoman Margalida Ramis said the holiday island was being saturated by visitors at the expense of the environment, local jobs, housing for residents and general co-existence. She said the islands' dependence on tourism was not a good thing from an economic point of view and was "precarious". She said: "The Balearic Government must be more sensitive to finding alternatives."

TWITTER The streets of Majorca were filled with 3,000 people protesting over mass tourism

TWITTER The crowd chanted 'Without limits, there is no future' and 'tourists go home'

The Balearic Government must be more sensitive to finding alternatives Margalida Ramis - Spokeswoman

The "Assembly 23-S" protest was joined by representatives of more than 50 social and environmental organisations and residents of all ages. Marchers called for the islands' government to be "more courageous" though they stressed it was not a political protest directed at the present leaders but "against a model overly dependent on tourism". The march was the first of its kind in Majorca since the debate over mass tourism began two years ago. Concerns have been prompted by the increase of arrivals of visitors in the last tourist seasons, the boom of the holiday rental business and the increase in rental cars, among other aspects.

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The protesters also claim there has been labour exploitation, particularly among the hotel cleaners and chambermaids, many of whom joined the march. The 23-S organisers say the government "needs a push" to carry out more courageous measures. However, the Balearic government rejects the criticism, saying steps are being taken to control tourism numbers and look after the environment. The number of tourists visiting the Balearics currently exceeds 12 million each year.

TWITTER The protesters claim there has been labour exploitation