As tourists filled the streets of Barcelona on Sunday, protests erupted against the overwhelming tourism pressures felt by locals. Protesters marched through the city, urging visitors to "Go Home!" and splashing water on bemused café customers while pasting stickers declaring tourists unwelcome onto shop windows.
Barcelona, a prime destination in Spain, welcomed over 15 million tourists last year—nearly ten times its local population. This influx has led to soaring rent prices and a feeling among many residents that they are being displaced from their own neighborhoods.
Marina, a participant in the march, held a sign reading, "Your AirBnB used to be my home," asserting that the high rental rates driven by short-term vacation rentals are making it impossible for locals to afford housing. Other protesters expressed their desire for a more manageable level of tourism, recognizing its economic importance but lamenting the strain it places on everyday life.
"We aren't against tourists," Elena, a young marine biologist, explained. "The issue is how we manage tourism and its effects on our living costs." The discontent isn't confined to the younger population; retirees are feeling the pressure as well. Pepi Viu, 80, recently evicted from her home, shared her struggle to find affordable housing amid rising costs, saying, "There’s only tourist flats now; we residents need somewhere to live!"
In the Gothic quarter, Joan Alvarez is fighting to retain his rental unit despite pressure from his landlord to vacate. "This is my house," he asserts. "It shouldn't be like that when there are so few residents left."
The mounting protests have prompted city authorities to announce a ban on short-term rentals by 2028, leading to the cancellation of 10,000 tourist apartment licenses. However, some landlords, like Jesus Pereda, argue they are being unfairly targeted. "We're just an easy enemy," he contended, indicating that the real issue lies with the influx of remote workers raising rent prices.
As the protests intensified, chants of "You're all guiris!"—a local term for foreigners—filled the air, with demonstrators targeting busy hotels and other tourist hotspots. Amid these tensions, local officials face a challenging balancing act as they weigh the economic benefits of tourism against the well-being of resident communities, all while anticipating an even greater influx of visitors this summer.
The situation in Barcelona echoes similar sentiments across Spain and neighboring countries, revealing a widespread struggle against the impacts of tourism that will require careful dialogue and planning going forward.
