Mallorca prostitution: 80% work behind closed doors

On Mallorca, 80% of the people Médicos del Mundo Baleares supports in prostitution work in private spaces, leaving outreach teams with fewer chances to find them and offer protection. The organisation recorded 1,045 people in prostitution on the island over the past year; 90% were women. It says the problem deepens during the tourist season, when women are moved repeatedly between hotels, holiday lets, boats and other private sites.

The pattern is known as decentralised prostitution. Instead of streets and clubs, the work shifts into private flats, tourist accommodation, hotels and yachts. Médicos del Mundo Baleares says this can leave people more isolated and cut them off from health, social and protection services.

The shift can also increase reliance on pimps who control online adverts, contact phones and travel, the organisation says. Irregular administrative status, language barriers, a lack of knowledge about local support and no support network can add to the vulnerability.

Moving from place to place

Constant moves between private locations can make possible sexual exploitation harder to spot, according to the group. They can also break off support work and reduce the chance for women to regain enough stability to leave violence and exploitation or report those benefiting from it.

Médicos del Mundo Baleares has increased its online contact and detection work, while continuing face-to-face outreach. Its teams work in areas including Palma, s'Arenal, Magaluf, Manacor, Inca, Playa de Muro, Alcúdia and Campos.

Signs of exploitation

The organisation stresses that not everyone it supports is a victim of trafficking. But it says people in prostitution can be especially vulnerable and need specialist help to assess their situation.

Possible warning signs include being unable to choose where to live or work, having movements controlled by pimps, documents being withheld, deception over working conditions and debts being imposed.

On 22 September 2026, Médicos del Mundo Baleares called for a comprehensive law against human trafficking and exploitation. It says prevention, detection, specialist care and recovery should form one co-ordinated protection route, backed by sufficient public funding.

Topics: Social affairs · Tourism · Politics · Palma · Calvià · Manacor · Inca · Muro · Alcúdia · Campos

Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com