Janice R. Andrews
Spain’s Barcelona – Anti-tourist demonstrators in Barcelona staged a theatrical show of unhappiness on Saturday by dousing tourists in water pistol sprays as part of a protest against mass tourism. “Tourists go home,” they chanted as they marched through well-known tourist destinations. Other protestors carried posters that read, “Barcelona is not for sale.”
The Assemblea de Barris pel Decreixement Turístic (Neighborhood Assembly for Tourism Degrowth), a collaboration of over 100 local organizations, coordinated the event, which drew thousands of participants. Similar demonstrations against the effects of mass tourism on local living standards and living expenses have recently taken place in Mallorca and the Canary Islands. The protest is a part of a larger movement in Spain against this issue.
The Cost of Tourism to Barcelona
Nearly 26 million tourists spent the night in the Barcelona region in 2023, bringing in €12.75 billion ($13.8 billion) in revenue, according to official statistics. But according to the Assemblea de Barris pel Decreixement Turístic, the rise in tourists has resulted in higher costs and more demand on public services. Additionally, the earnings from the tourism sector have been divided unequally, which has exacerbated social inequality.
Thirteen actions have been suggested by the organization to lower tourism and move the city toward a sustainable tourist strategy. Closing cruise ship terminals, tightening regulations on lodging, and cutting public financing for tourism promotion are some of the main recommendations.
Actions Taken to Reduce Mass Tourism
Barcelona’s mayor, Jaume Collboni, recently unveiled a set of initiatives meant to lessen the adverse effects of mass tourism in response to mounting concerns. These include restricting the number of passengers on cruise ships and raising the nightly tourist charge to €4 ($4.30). Collboni has also announced plans to remove short-term rental licenses for over 10,000 apartments, effectively ending apartment rentals for visitors by 2028. The goal of this action is to lower housing costs for long-term tenants, as the cost of purchasing a home has increased by 38% and rentals in Barcelona have increased by 68% in the last ten years.
Disapproval and Debate
Collboni has come under fire for permitting high-profile events that draw tourists despite these attempts. The famous Parc Güell, designed by Antoni Gaudí, hosted a Louis Vuitton catwalk display in May. The city will also play host to the America’s Cup sailing competition. Locals are divided over these activities, arguing that they exacerbate the very issue the city is attempting to address.
An All-Nation Uprising
Barcelona’s anti-tourism stance is a subset of a wider Spanish tendency. Canary Islanders protested against overtourism in April, blaming travelers for the region’s rapidly rising housing costs and deteriorating ecology. Growing discontent with the tourism sector, which is thought to have major negative effects such as noise pollution, traffic congestion, and increasing demand on local resources, is reflected in these protests, even though it has economic advantages.
Worldwide Consequences
Barcelona and other Spanish cities are not alone in their struggles. Numerous well-known tourist locations across the globe are dealing with the fallout from unprecedented visitor numbers, which were spurred by the travel industry’s recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic. While tourism helps local economies and hospitality enterprises, there are also serious drawbacks, such as a lower standard of living for locals and a weakened guest experience.
As a result, several popular tourist destinations have put policies in place to address overtourism. These steps include setting attendance limits at well-liked destinations, starting campaigns to deter bad visitor behavior, and establishing or raising tourist taxes.
The persistent conflict between the financial advantages of tourism and its negative social and environmental effects is exemplified by the demonstration in Barcelona. The discussion about the future of tourism is probably going to get hotter as towns like Barcelona try to strike a balance between these conflicting interests. Future sustainable tourism models will be greatly influenced by the decisions made by local government officials and the responses of the populace.
