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A comedian has gone viral for his harsh opinion that “Europe is finished,” and it seems many people agree.
As European cities like Barcelona begin to crack down on tourists and short-term rentals, one TikTok user shared why he thinks Europeans should instead welcome the influx of foreigners visiting their cities.
“I’ve seen so many news stories about local Europeans getting angry and complaining and spraying water at tourists because they’re ruining their cities,” comedian Dan Mahboubian-Rosen began a viral video with the text “Europe is finished” on screen.
“You just have to accept that you are our Disney World right now and that this is your role in this world,” he said.
Earlier this month in Barcelona, Spain, thousands of residents threw water on diners in tourist areas during a demonstration against mass tourism. Spanish residents chanted “Tourists go home” and held up signs that read “Enough is enough! Limit tourism.”
Protesters called on the city to impose restrictions on short-term rentals and address the rising cost of living that has made many cities unlivable places for residents.
Other European destinations have joined the anti-tourism movement: the Italian city of Venice introduced a 5 euro ($5.50) daily entrance fee for peak visits, the Amsterdam city council voted to ban cruise ships from the city’s main port, and Greece introduced time slots for visitors to the Acropolis in Athens.
Despite growing sentiment against mass tourism, Rosen isn’t entirely sympathetic to the protests of local European residents, given the region’s long history of colonization. “The Europeans colonized the world, plundered it, milked the wealth and built nice little squares and palaces and had fun, so now we have to accept that it’s just a museum city,” the comedian said.
Rosen criticized European cities for offering history and “cured meats” without actually producing anything new. “That’s what they have to offer the global economy, to ride on the scent of luxury and culture that they created centuries ago,” he added. “China makes solar panels, you make Manchego.”
The TikTok user described Europe as a “playground” and argued that it’s a pretty fair trade-off in exchange for universal healthcare and a lower retirement age, unlike the U.S. “You should embrace the fact that you’re a living ‘it’s a small world’ ride,” Rosen said, referring to the famous Magic Kingdom attraction at Disney theme parks.
He captioned the viral video, “It’s ok, you guys had a good run. Time to accept your destiny, Europe.”
Since being posted on July 22, Rosen’s video has garnered more than one million views and 5,000 comments, many of them agreeing that Native Europeans “need to humble themselves.”
“Why would you make such a controversial yet courageous statement,” one TikTok user commented.
“This is so true. White Europeans need to humble themselves,” said another.
“It’s funny how Europeans think that the cities they inherited are the result of good social planning policies, not exploitative colonialism,” another person pointed out.
However, others used the opportunity to point out that the ongoing protests by local Europeans are due to rising rental prices for residents.
“The problem isn’t tourists, it’s housing. It’s unaffordable for working class people. If we can protest here why can’t we protest there?” commented one TikTok user.
“This is the most American take,” another wrote. “They’re not saying no tourists, the protests are about tourists making things so expensive that locals can no longer afford to live in their town.”
A third said: “They’re not mad. [at] “Tourists. They’re angry at arrogant tourists like you.”
While Rosen may have received some backlash for likening Europe to Disney World, he may not be entirely wrong: Barcelona Mayor Jaume Corboni said Tuesday that Spain’s most touristy city must impose limits on tourism to avoid becoming a “theme park” without its residents.
“Tourism should contribute to the urban model, not the other way around, and that’s exactly what we’re doing in Barcelona,” added Corboni, who last month issued a decree banning tourists from renting short-term housing by 2028.
Over the past decade, rents in Spanish resort areas have risen 68 percent and the cost of buying a home has risen 38 percent. About 26 million tourists visited the city of 1.6 million last year, and tourism accounts for 15 percent of the economy.
Meanwhile, the European tourism industry saw a 12 percent increase in foreign visitors year-on-year, according to a report by the European Travel Commission. The ETC expects European tourists to spend €800.5 billion in 2024, a 13.7 percent increase since 2023.
