Protests Against Over-Tourism Sweep Southern Europe
On Sunday, coordinated protests broke out across several cities in southern Europe as thousands took to the streets to oppose the negative impact of mass tourism. Demonstrators argued that the tourism boom is inflating housing prices and displacing local communities. In Barcelona, the protestors used water guns on tourists, plastered protest stickers on business windows, and set off smoke flares, urging authorities to intervene.
Chanting slogans like “Your vacation, our suffering,” Barcelona residents carried signs warning that “Over-tourism destroys our city” and “Greed is ruining us.” The city, with a population of 1.7 million, hosted over 26 million visitors in the past year.
The protests were organized under the coalition SET (Southern Europe Against Touristification), and saw participation from activists across Spain, Italy, and Portugal. Similar demonstrations were reported in Ibiza, Palma de Mallorca, Granada, Malaga, San Sebastian, Lisbon, Venice, Naples, Genoa, Palermo, and Milan.
Barcelona’s demonstration stood out for its intensity, with some protesters clashing with hotel workers and waving signs that read “Tourists Go Home.” City officials estimated about 600 people joined the rally in Barcelona, while around 5,000 took part in Mallorca. In both cities, participants used squirt guns—sometimes aimed directly at tourists—to make their point.
“We’re being forced out little by little,” said 42-year-old Andreu Martínez, a local resident. “Barcelona has been surrendered to tourism. We’re fighting to reclaim our city.”
In response to growing pressure, Barcelona’s municipal government has announced a plan to phase out short-term tourist rentals by 2028. The national government has also cracked down on illegal listings, ordering Airbnb to remove nearly 66,000 non-compliant properties.
