Thousands of protesters marched through Barcelona over the weekend to express anger at mass tourism and its impacts on Spain's most visited city. The protests, which took place in popular tourist areas such as La Barceloneta, saw demonstrators chanting 'tourists go home' and using water pistols to spray diners. The Assemblea de Barris pel Decreixement Turístic led the demonstration and published 13 proposals to reduce the number of visitors and transition Barcelona to a new model of tourism. According to official figures, almost 26 million visitors made an overnight stay in the Barcelona region in 2023, spending €12.75 billion ($13.8 billion). However, protesters argue that these visitors increase prices and put pressure on public services, while profits from the tourism industry are unfairly distributed and increase social inequality. In response to the protests, Mayor Jaume Collboni has announced measures to reduce the impact of mass tourism including increasing the nightly tourist tax to €4 ($4.30) and limiting cruise ship passengers. Collboni also announced plans to end apartment rentals for tourists by 2028, making housing more affordable for long-term residents. The cost of housing in Barcelona has risen 68% over the past decade, becoming a main point of contention for disgruntled residents. Collboni's measures have been met with mixed reactions, with some praising his efforts to address overtourism and others criticizing him for allowing events such as a Louis Vuitton catwalk show in architect Antoni Gaudí’s Parc Güell in May. The growing discontent in Barcelona echoes similar protests in other parts of Spain, such as the Canary Islands where locals have mobilized against excessive tourism and environmental damage.
