Its promoters have suggested it as the “Ibiza of the north”. And the fact is that the tourist megaproject planned at Ribamontán al Mar on the Cantabrian coast, about 30 kilometers from Santander, has achieved a success that makes it similar to the major tourist centers in the Balearic or Canary archipelagos, although probably much smaller. supporters: social protest. Thousands of people took to the streets on Saturday, carrying signs reading “Cantabria defends itself” or “Stop the macro complex.” The Government Delegation is talking about 3,000 participants. Organization of more than 8,000 people. Beyond the expected dancing of the figures, one thing is clear: not everyone in Cantabria wants to be northern Ibiza.

Organizers predict more mobilization.

“Stop macro complex”. This is the message that can be read on the banner that opened Saturday’s march organized by the Cantabristas party between the towns of Loredo and Langre, the area where they plan to build a residential complex with a golf course. course. Supporters of the movement speak of “success”, a “massive following”, with more than 8,000 people coming to areas affected by the macro-tourism complex. The Government Committee reduces this number to around 3,000.

Against the “Ibiza of the North”. According to the organisers, the result is clear: “Cantabrian society has taken sides in the public debate on tourist massification and has positioned itself against the transformation of Cantabria into the ‘Ibiza of the north’.” Reference is not free. This was the slogan used by a Balearic company that expressed interest in building a residential complex with a golf course on land in Ribamontán al Mar, between Loredo and Langre.

According to Cantabristas, the thousands of people who took to the streets with banners and music on Saturday show that the community is “taking a step forward to defend itself” against those who want to destroy the area to “line their pockets”. At the end of the march, the person in charge of the formation, Paulu Lobete, read a manifesto in which he emphasized that the mobilizations were “just beginning”.

In the speech, harsh expressions were used, especially towards the model, which was considered a “predatory” tourism model. “What good is urban speculation and tourist overcrowding if we Cantabrians have trouble accessing housing, if we suffer the consequences of this overcrowding, if tourism only provides precarious employment?” Lobete claimed that this Saturday was a “historic” march, the first mobilization against “tourist massification” in the region.

A candy in the north. Claiming that it was founded to “defend Cantabria and its people” and that it received 5,500 votes in the 2023 regional elections, but not enough to win seats, the organization warns that there is an “urban speculation problem” in all of Cantabria; But Saturday’s mobilization focuses on a very specific project: the development of some land that is being auctioned as part of the dismantling of the construction company Emilio Bolada.

weeks ago Montañés’ Diary It revealed that the Municipal Council of Ribamontán al Mar was aware of at least four interested buyers. A company and a businessman experienced in the real estate sector were also included in the list.

Residence, tourism and golf. The land subject to the tender is approximately 745,000 square meters and is a large area where hotel and residential uses of different classifications are completed. The General Plan states that residential construction in the surrounding area is subject to the development of a golf course. The site and its location are so attractive that many years ago the development of a residential and hotel complex consisting of an 18-hole golf course and 350 houses was already being considered. There are now people who see this place as the “Ibiza of the North”.

From crowds and protests. Saturday’s march was called in a very specific context and its message also focuses on Cantabria’s specific situation, but it dovetails with other recent protests in other parts of the country that have focused on tourist overcrowding. real estate market and housing rental.

The most notable were recorded weeks ago in the Canary Islands, where tens of thousands of people took to the streets to protest a model of tourism that they warned was strangling the archipelago. Shortly thereafter, Tenerife council realized it was considering charging for access to the Teide. There are similar movements in the Balearic Islands. A march against tourist saturation will be held in Mallorca and Ibiza at the end of the month. Organizers of the first event say their goal is clear: They don’t want the island to become a “luxury resort.”

Pictures | Cantabristas (X)

in Xataka | The Canary Islands face the irreparable dilemma of limiting tourism. We start by charging to climb the Teide