In a significant show of resistance against mass tourism, thousands of demonstrators marched through central Barcelona last weekend, chanting “Tourists go home” and wielding placards. According to local police, the protest saw 2 800 participants, some of whom used water guns to spray unsuspecting tourists, highlighting the city’s ongoing struggle with the overwhelming number of visitors.
Picture: Martí Cusó / X
The protest on Saturday evening, July 6, was part of a broader wave of anti-tourism rallies spreading across Spain this year. Demonstrators carried signs reading “Barcelona is not for sale” as they marched through the bustling Las Ramblas district, demanding “Tourists out of our neighbourhood.” Organized by over 140 groups, including neighbourhood associations and housing activists, the march began at Les Drassanes at 6:30 pm, as reported by Catalan News. Protesters argue that the influx of tourists has driven up living costs and property prices, deepened social inequality, and restricted housing access.
This recent surge of anger follows a major protest on June 8, where around 3 000 young people took to the streets to address various issues, from housing to environmental concerns. According to the property website Idealista, rents in popular tourist cities like Barcelona and Madrid soared by 18 percent in June compared to the previous year.
‘We come here to demonstrate against mass touristification in Barcelona. The city has increasingly catered to tourists, and we want a city for citizens, not just for tourists,’ one protester told Reuters. Another added, ‘Restaurants and hotels are making huge profits, but people are struggling to make ends meet. That’s a problem.’
This weekend’s protests echo similar demonstrations in other popular tourist destinations, including the Balearic and Canary Islands. On May 25, approximately 15 000 people marched in Palma, Majorca, with signs reading “SOS Tourism” and “Let’s save Majorca, foreigners out.” The following day, Ibiza saw its own protests, and in April, the Canary Islands witnessed locals voicing concerns about the impact of mass tourism on housing, the environment, and jobs.
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