A German millionaire couple who own a once-tranquil beach in Mallorca have applied for permission to fence it off and block public access amid mounting anger over mass tourism.
Maren and Hans-Peter Oehm, who live in the nearby town of Santanyi, have long acted as caretakers of Calo des Moro.
But their secluded cove was transformed from a hidden gem into an overcrowded tourist hotspot after images of its turquoise waters went viral on social media.
Tourism authorities had actively encouraged influencers to promote lesser-known locations such as Calo des Moro during 2024 in an attempt to ease pressure on the island’s most popular beaches.
However, the Mallorcan officials' strategy backfired.
At the height of the season, around 4,000 people a day descended on the small beach, overwhelming the site.
The environmental damage has been severe with around six tonnes of sand are said to disappear every three months, with an estimated 70kg carried away each day on towels and footwear.
Footage filmed last summer showed tourists queuing simply to reach the sand, while rubbish now lines what was once an unspoilt shoreline.
At the height of the season, around 4,000 people a day descended on the small beach
|GETTY
In some images, the beach appears so crowded that the ground beneath is barely visible.
The Oehm family have taken on responsibility for maintaining the area, clearing waste, restoring damaged vegetation and extinguishing fires started by visitors.
Residents say the cove - accessible only by navigating rocky paths and descending 120 steep steps - has become a dumping ground for tourists unwilling to carry their belongings back up.
The couple are said to have repeatedly asked local authorities for help, but their pleas have gone unanswered.
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Footage filmed last summer showed rubbish now lining what was once an unspoilt shoreline
|TIKTOK/24SHERRY24
What was once a remote and peaceful location, reachable only after a demanding descent, became inundated with selfie-seeking visitors drawn by viral social media posts.
The sheer volume of tourists has forced the owners to spend significant time and money maintaining the site.
Local anger boiled over in June 2024, when more than 300 protesters occupied the beach, unfurling a banner reading: “Let’s occupy our beaches."
Demonstrators gathered at a nearby car park, handing out leaflets in English and German to warn tourists, prompting many to turn back.
A video posted on social media last summer showed beachgoers forming long queues just to set foot on the sand
|TIKTOK/JACK_VEARABEI10
Footage from the protest showed a woman blocking access to the cove as a local resident shouted at approaching visitors to leave.
Kristina Vashchenko, a 20-year-old Ukrainian originally from Mariupol but now living in Germany, was among those turned away.
“I saw pictures on TikTok and wanted to come but we just realised that there are protests by people who live here,” she said.
“It is a shame but I appreciate that we are guests on their island and they live here.”
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