Anti-Tourism Protests in Barcelona: Water Guns and Angry Chants as Locals Demand Change

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In a striking display of local frustration over perceived overtourism, thousands of protesters marched through the streets of central Barcelona, waving placards and squirting foreign visitors with water pistols. The demonstration, which took place under the slogan "Enough! Let's put limits on tourism," saw some 2,800 people marching along a waterfront district, calling for a new economic model that would curb the millions of tourists flocking to the city each year.

 

 

Protesters carried signs reading "Barcelona is not for sale" and "Tourists go home," and targeted tourists dining outdoors at popular restaurants. Chants of "Tourists out of our neighbourhood" echoed through the streets as demonstrators halted in front of hotel entrances. A primary concern driving the movement is the soaring cost of housing in Barcelona, which has risen by 68 percent over the past decade. The city's residents also lament the detrimental effects of tourism on local commerce and working conditions.

 

 

According to the property website Idealista, rents in Barcelona and other tourist-heavy cities like Madrid rose by 18% in June compared to the previous year. Anti-tourist graffiti has been a common sight in the city for years, with messages such as "tourists go home" directed at visitors who are blamed for driving up prices and reshaping the local economy to cater predominantly to tourists.

 

 

In response to these growing tensions, Barcelona's mayor, Jaume Collboni, announced a plan in June to phase out all short-term rentals by 2028, an unexpectedly drastic measure aimed at controlling housing costs and making the city more livable for residents. Despite these efforts, many locals feel that the measures are insufficient to balance the needs of the tourists, who contribute significantly to the city's economy, with those of the residents.

 

 

"Local shops are closing to make way for stores that do not serve the needs of neighbourhoods. People cannot afford their rents," said Isa Miralles, a 35-year-old musician living in the Barceloneta district. Jordi Guiu, a 70-year-old sociologist, echoed this sentiment, stating, "I have nothing against tourism, but here in Barcelona, we are suffering from an excess of tourism that has made our city unliveable."

 

 

Barcelona, renowned for its iconic landmarks like La Sagrada Familia, welcomed over 12 million tourists last year, according to local authorities. In an effort to combat the "negative effects of mass tourism," the city council, led by the Socialist Jaume Collboni, announced a ban on tourist apartment rentals by 2028, aiming to return these properties to the local housing market. However, this decision is expected to trigger legal battles and is opposed by an association of tourist apartments, which argues that it will only bolster the black market.

 

 

The anti-tourism protests in Barcelona are part of a broader wave of demonstrations across Spain's popular tourist destinations, including Malaga, Palma de Mallorca, and the Canary Islands. Spain, the world's second most visited country after France, saw 85 million foreign visitors in 2023, an increase of 18.7 percent from the previous year, according to the National Statistics Institute. Catalonia, with Barcelona as its capital, was the most visited region, attracting 18 million tourists, followed by the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands.

 

Earlier this year, locals in the Canary Islands organized mass protests, warning British travelers that they would target main holidaymaker areas over the summer. These demonstrations, which involved tens of thousands of participants, aimed to discourage foreign holidaymakers and push for new legislation to protect the islands from the effects of expanding tourism. Protesters argued that the influx of tourists was causing environmental damage, driving down wages, and pushing locals out of affordable housing, forcing some to live in tents and cars.

 

Similar sentiments were echoed in Malaga, where more than 15,000 people took to the streets at the end of June. Banners at the demonstration, organized by the Malaga Tenants Union and supported by nearly 50 organizations including Greenpeace and Oxfam, read "We feel like strangers in our own city." The protest aimed to highlight the impact of overtourism on local communities and demand that the city prioritize residents' needs over those of tourists.

 

The backlash against overtourism is not unique to Spain. In various Mediterranean resorts across Spain, Greece, and other countries, graffiti and protests have become commonplace, urging tourists to "go home." In an effort to mitigate tensions, some local authorities have introduced policies to curb reckless behavior by tourists. For instance, Magaluf has implemented rules banning street drinking and restricting alcohol sales in grocery stores after 8:30 PM, with fines for violations reaching up to €3,000.

 

In 2022, the Balearic island of Mallorca introduced a dress code prohibiting tank tops without straps, swimwear, football kits, and certain accessories in bars and restaurants. Additionally, smoking was banned on several beaches, following similar measures in Barcelona, to improve the image of the areas and appease residents.

 

Other popular tourist destinations have experimented with innovative measures to control visitor numbers. In Japan, a town set up a 65-foot screen to block views of Mount Fuji in a bid to deter tourists from gathering at a picturesque spot. Venice became the first city in the world to charge an entry fee for day-tripper tourists, aiming to reduce the number of short-stay visitors who cause congestion during peak times. However, this "tourist tax" has sparked controversy, with some arguing it merely tarnishes the city's image without addressing the fundamental issues.

 

Violent clashes erupted in Venice in April as demonstrators took to the streets, some confronting police in riot gear. Matteo Secchi, leader of the residents' activist group Venessia.com, criticized the entry fee, stating, "You can't impose an entrance fee to a city; all they're doing is transforming it into a theme park. This is a bad image for Venice… I mean, are we joking?" Federica Toninello, head of the ASC association for housing, argued that the council had not fully grasped the consequences of mass tourism. "For a start, €5 will do nothing to deter people. But day trippers aren't the issue; things like the shortage of affordable housing are… What we need are policies to help residents, for example, making rules to limit things like Airbnb."

 

As cities around the world grapple with the challenges posed by overtourism, the balance between welcoming visitors and preserving the quality of life for residents remains a contentious issue. The protests in Barcelona and other tourist hotspots underscore the urgent need for solutions that address the root causes of local frustrations while ensuring sustainable tourism practices for the future.

 

Credit: Daily Mail 2024-07-08

 

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[spidermike007]

It is not going to make any difference. Just returned from Europe and popular destinations in Italy and France were packed. More so than before covid. Tourists are returning by the millions. Water pistols are only going to amuse tourists. 

[stoner]

so i expect there to be 0 tourists from barcelona anywhere in the world on holiday. otherwise you can all kiss my az* hypocrites. 

[Tarteso]

4 hours ago, Social Media said:

waving placards and squirting foreign visitors with water pistols.

That's how it all started in Sonkrang. 🤔

[thesetat2013]

Waiting the Thai locals to pick up on this and demand the government curb tourism some. But will never happen. 

[Purdey]

Tourism is the key focus of the Thai government - not human resources development, not high technology. 

I feel that locals here wish westerners would just leave their money at the airport and immediately fly back