Demonstration in Barcelona against mass tourism

Under the slogan: "Enough! Let's put limits on tourism", some 2.800 demonstrators, according to the police, marched to demand a change in the economic model for the city, the most visited in the country.

“We have nothing against tourism, but against excess tourism, yes, because it makes the city unlivable,” explains Jordi Guiu, a 70-year-old sociologist from Barcelona.

Behind a banner reading “Reduce tourism now!”, demonstrators marched chanting slogans such as “Tourists out of our neighborhoods”, stopping in front of some hotels to the surprise of visitors.

Critics of overtourism mainly denounce its effect on the price of housing - rents have increased by 68% over the last decade, according to Barcelona City Hall - but also its deleterious consequences on local businesses, the environment or working conditions of local employees.

“Everyday businesses are closing to make way for a business model that does not correspond to the needs of the neighborhood. People (...) cannot pay the rent, they have to leave,” complains Isa Miralles, a 35-year-old musician. who lives in the Barceloneta district.

Barcelona welcomed more than 12 million tourists last year, according to the municipality.

To facilitate access to housing for residents, the town hall recently announced that it wanted to put an end to the rental of tourist apartments by 2029.

From the Balearic Islands to the Canaries via the major tourist cities of Andalusia such as Malaga, movements hostile to overtourism are increasing in Spain.

The second largest tourist destination in the world behind France, Spain welcomed a record 85,1 million foreign visitors last year.

The most visited region was Catalonia with 18 million visitors, followed by the Balearic Islands (14,4 million) and the Canary Islands (13,9 million).

Tourism in Spain represents 12,8% of GDP and accounts for 12,6% of jobs.