Barcelona is known for its culture and scenic beauty. That’s why thousands of tourists flock to the city every year to enjoy the local cuisine, beautiful beaches, and all the good things the city has to offer. But the city’s growing tourist population has angered locals. More than 2,800 Spanish locals took to the streets of Barcelona over the weekend to protest mass tourism. During the protest, many protesters used water guns to spray foreigners dining outdoors at a popular tourist restaurant in the Rambla district.
Barcelona locals protest by throwing water at tourists
Images/Photos Courtesy: X/@levelsio & X/RichMatousek
Residents of Barcelona were protesting the increase in tourism in the city over the weekend. Cheering on slogans such as “Tourists go home” and “Enough is enough! Limit tourism,” residents marched along Barcelona’s seafront to demand a new economic model to reduce tourism in the city. Tourists in Barcelona were caught in the crossfire during this time, with many protesters using water guns to target tourists dining on the city’s popular Las Ramblas.
Image/Photo: X/@levelsio
Videos and photos circulating on social media showed tourists having to leave their tables and rush out of the restaurant to protect themselves from the spray. Local police said around 2,800 people took part in the protest over the weekend, NDTV reported. Locals were heard chanting “tourists go home” throughout the protest. The incident highlighted the growing problem of mass tourism in the city, and how angry locals are about the whole issue.
Read also: What is the Spanish Porn Passport and how it can help curb teen addiction to adult content?
What is mass tourism and why are Spanish locals protesting?
Image courtesy of: X/@JPNWMN
Mass tourism, or overtourism, occurs when too many people visit the same place at the same time. In recent months, Japan has been one of the biggest victims of mass tourism, and the Spanish city of Barcelona seems to be facing a similar problem. According to local authorities, the city saw over 12 million tourists last year, which is a cause for concern for local residents.
Image courtesy of: X/@aaricciardelli
Locals in Spain are calling on city authorities to take action against mass tourism. Locals say house prices in Barcelona have risen 68 percent in the past decade, which is one of the main reasons for the protests, NDTV reported. Locals also cite tourism’s impact on local commerce and working conditions in the city of 1.6 million Spaniards.
It’s a shame to see tourists not respecting your city, but does that justify throwing water at them? Let me know your thoughts in the comments section.
Cover image courtesy of X/@OnyaDon & X/@dave1agar
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