This summer, Europe has witnessed an unprecedented rise in anti-tourism protests, reflecting a growing discontent among local populations. Cities renowned for their tourist appeal, such as Barcelona, Mallorca, and Venice, have become hotbeds of activism against the overwhelming influx of visitors. The escalating unrest highlights the tension between the economic benefits of tourism and its detrimental effects on local communities.
In early July, Barcelona became a focal point for these protests. Demonstrators, frustrated by the impact of mass tourism, took to the streets in a dramatic display of discontent. One striking protest involved activists using water pistols to spray unsuspecting tourists while chanting, "tourists go home." This form of protest, which gained significant media attention, underscores the intensity of local grievances against the tourist industry.
Carlos Ramirez, a school teacher from Barcelona, has become a voice for the affected residents. Ramirez, who is struggling to afford housing in a city where rents have surged by 68% over the past decade, blames the influx of tourists for exacerbating the housing crisis. "Everyone I know lives here," he said, "But the only way you can afford to live right now in Barcelona is sharing with two, three, four people." This sentiment is shared by many locals who see their neighborhoods transformed into tourist hotspots, driving up prices and displacing long-time residents.
The backlash against tourism is not confined to Spain. In Mallorca, thousands recently protested, accusing the island’s tourism model of enriching a few while impoverishing workers. Similarly, the Canary Islands saw locals demanding changes through extreme measures, including hunger strikes. These protests are fueled by a perception that tourism benefits only a select few, leaving the broader population to deal with rising living costs and degraded local infrastructure.
The repercussions of these protests extend beyond local grievances. Antje Martins, an expert in sustainable tourism from the University of Queensland, points out that the reputational damage caused by such protests could deter potential tourists. "Barcelona now has a really bad reputation for other tourists who don’t want to visit because they’re scared," Martins explained. The fear of encountering hostility can shift tourist flows and impact the economic stability of cities reliant on tourism.
In response to the growing unrest, some cities are implementing measures to control tourist numbers. Venice, for example, introduced a temporary €5 tourist charge from April to July, which generated over €2.4 million. While some residents have praised this initiative for reducing crowding, others, like Susanna Polloni of the Solidarity Network for Housing, criticize it as ineffective and harmful. Polloni argues that such measures only reinforce the notion of a "Veniceland," where access is commodified, and do not address the underlying issues of tourism-driven gentrification.
Barcelona is also taking steps to address these concerns. Mayor Jaume Collboni has proposed increasing the city’s tourist tax and restricting short-term rental licenses to alleviate the pressure on housing markets. These initiatives reflect a growing recognition of the need to balance the economic benefits of tourism with the preservation of local quality of life.
Sebastian Zenker, a professor at Copenhagen Business School, notes that cities across Europe are grappling with similar issues. "It’s about seeing the money that is made by tourists, or with tourists, being invested in the place and in jobs so people can afford to live," Zenker said. He emphasizes the need for sustainable tourism practices that ensure local communities benefit from tourism revenues while mitigating the negative impacts of overcrowding and gentrification.
As Europe faces this pivotal moment, the ongoing protests serve as a stark reminder of the challenges posed by mass tourism. While the protests are a manifestation of broader discontent with unsustainable tourism practices, they also highlight the urgent need for reforms that can reconcile the demands of tourism with the well-being of local communities.
