In central Barcelona, angry protesters yelled at holidaymakers to “go home” and pelted tourists with water pistols.
Demonstrators took to the streets in Spain on Saturday night to protest against “overtourism”.
Spanish police said around 2,800 protesters had gathered to demand a new economic model that would see a sharp decline in the number of tourists visiting each year.
Activists held up signs reading “Barcelona is not for sale” and “Tourists go home” as they marched through popular tourist spots.
Demonstrators took to the streets in Spain on Saturday night to protest against “overtourism”.
Reuters
Water was also thrown at holidaymakers dining at a restaurant as protesters chanted “tourists leave our area”.
In Spain, house prices have risen 68% over the past decade and working conditions have deteriorated.
According to real estate website Idealista, rents in cities such as Barcelona and Madrid rose 18% in June compared to a year earlier.
Barcelona Mayor Jaume Corboni announced in June that all short-term rentals would be phased out by 2028.
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The unexpected move, aimed at curbing soaring housing costs, has left many feeling not enough is being done to meet the needs of tourists.
“Local shops are closing to make way for others that don’t serve the needs of the neighborhood. People can’t pay the rent,” said Isa Miralles, who lives in the Barceloneta neighborhood.
“I’m not against tourism, but in Barcelona, too many tourists are making the city an unlivable place,” added Jordi Guiu, a 70-year-old sociologist.
Ten days ago, the city council, led by Socialist candidate Jaume Corboni, announced it would ban the rental of tourist apartments by 2028, returning them to the local housing market.
Water was also thrown at holidaymakers eating at a restaurant, with protesters chanting “tourists leave our area”.
Reuters
Locals across Spain have held anti-tourism demonstrations in recent months, with 15,000 protesters taking to the streets of Palma on the island of Mallorca in May.
Travel companies are urging tourists to look elsewhere when booking their next trip, with TUI saying the Balearic Islands have “reached capacity”.
TUI CEO Sebastian Eber said the Spanish islands could not accommodate any more tourists and encouraged visitors to consider less crowded destinations such as Egypt and Turkey.
