UNESCO officials say anti-tourism protests in Spain and across Europe will grow unless politicians address the negative impacts felt by residents.
“It’s really important that civil society gets involved and tries to make a difference because they are elected officials and they have to respond to the demands of city residents,” Peter Devlin, the group’s senior project manager for sustainable tourism, told CNBC.
In Barcelona, for example, problems with tourism are worsening, with a city council survey conducted in 2023 showing that an increasing number of residents believe tourism does not benefit the Catalan capital.
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“We were really pushed to the limit in Barcelona but there are solutions,” Devlin said.
UNESCO officials say there is a need to rebalance the interests of local residents and tourists.
“Cities that are over-touristed can promote quality over quantity tourism – prioritizing big-spending tourists over mass tourists,” he said.
“Quality” tourists also help solve the problem of badly behaved vacationers.
“When it comes to residents, it’s not just about numbers, it’s about people’s behaviour,” Devlin said, responding to a rise in complaints about excessive drinking, fighting and littering.
“We need to be more conscious in our travel decisions and consider the mirror city concept.”
“There is a beautiful city called Tarragona to the south of Barcelona. Like Barcelona, it has many wonderful cultural sites and a beautiful seaside.”
But unlike Barcelona, Devlin said it “could benefit from an increase in tourists.”
Further anti-tourism protests are planned across Spain, including a large demonstration in Mallorca this Sunday.
