On Sunday, vibrant protests filled the streets of Barcelona, Spain, with activists utilizing squirt guns as they challenged mass tourism in a creative and engaging manner. This coordinated effort also spanned across Genoa, Italy, and Lisbon, Portugal, where activists used suitcases to stage what they termed a "noisy stroll."
In Barcelona, crowds gathered on the luxurious Golden Mile, equipped with signs reading slogans such as “Tourists go home” and “Tourism is stealing from us,” as they sprayed water on passersby to express their frustrations. This protest comes as part of a larger movement established by the Southern Europe Network Against Touristification after intensive workshops hosted in April, fueled by ongoing issues like inflated housing prices and environmental degradation linked to tourism.
In Genoa, the ambiance mirrored that of Barcelona, with demonstrators rolling suitcases along narrow streets to emphasize their message. Meanwhile, protesters in Lisbon made a statement by carrying an effigy of the city's patron saint from his church to a site earmarked for a new luxury hotel.
Additionally, in Majorca, locals halted a double-decker tourist bus, igniting flares, and displaying a large banner, further highlighting community dissatisfaction. These protests are largely viewed as an emotional outpouring from people feeling the adverse impact of tourists on local quality of life.
Joan Mas, a 31-year-old waiter from Barcelona, articulated the shared sentiment: “The general perception is that these people have way more money than we do — they come here to party, to rent places we can’t afford on our wages. The problem is the tourism model itself: It’s all about serving drinks, about real estate and the hotel industry.”
As concerns over tourism’s long-term sustainability continue to mount, the revival of these protests suggests a turning tide where citizens demand action from authorities to wrestle back control over their cities from the wave of tourists.
