Anti-Tourist Protests

From what I've read, you needn't be concerned for your personal safety but you should be aware of how many locals now view tourists. I can see how that would factor in anyone's travel planning.

I was in northern Spain early this year and saw no sentiment of it. Our RS guide didn't think it was anything to worry about at the time either. But since then the protests have grown larger, louder and a bit more rambunctious. Squirt guns to some are playful and a non-issue. To others, it's crossing a line. You are being driven out of your outdoor dining experience and a tad wet. That of course is few and far between. Thousands of happy and dry tourists. A few wet ones.

Personally, if I had already booked the trip there, I wouldn't change it. If I hadn't, I'd consider looking somewhere else.

Good luck!

Good advice. We haven't booked yet. Will consider a destination more receptive or at least less discouraging of visitors.

I find it interesting that Barcelona has had a steadily increasing rate of violent theft and crime directed at tourists, a very real issue that did not get much international media coverage. As well Barcelona is in the midst of a devastating drought that is affecting tourist amenities, like hotels, fountains, pools, beach showers. Yet a few hippies with water pistols is all it took for tourists to halt their travel plans to Barcelona.

Besides there are many other places to visit in Spain that are not so overburden with tourism. Consider Valencia or Alicante if you still want to be on the Mediterranean coast, or head up to underrated Northern Spain, like Bilbao or Santiago de Compostela

Carlos, I respect your point of view. I think your posts are excellent. You certainly know first hand the issues in Barcelona.

While theft/crime/safety in Barcelona and Europe is something to be aware of, statistically speaking it is lower than the US. And droughts/climate change also are real issues-- so are they for California, Las Vegas and thousands of other places in the world.

This new mass movement to tell tourists not to come is more off-putting to me personally. I respect local cultures, local traditions and local desires. And if they don't want me to visit, I respect that. In contrast, the official position regarding the drought was "please come"-- but be aware water restrictions exist. That's seems fair. Don't waste water. Don't expect the same water usage, etc. Also, be aware of crime.

Anyway, I think Spain is a great country and it has much to offer. For that reason alone, I respect the wishes of locals. The anti-tourism sentiment may temper or it may not. I think it prudent to consider the issue before traveling,.

David you are comparing apples to oranges. I don't think it's helpful to compare the statistics of the USA and Spain directly when it comes to crime, overtourism, ecological issues etc.

I don't want to get too into it, but you can read more here if you are interested: https://www.catalannews.com/society-science/item/crime-in-barcelona-surges-86-in-a-year-with-24-increase-in-sexual-assaults

As for the "new mass movement to tell tourists not to come", the manifestation in Barcelona was only around 3,000 people, out of a population of 1.6 million. Those using the water pistols only amounted to a handful of people within that group. If we want to talk data well, maybe you can infer that point yourself. If the anti tourism manifestation was in the 100,000s with an army of water toy wielding partisans... then that's a different story in my book lol!

I think the people who were harassed probably view it as more of a serious event. If someone shot me with water pistols while I was spending my hard earned money, well let's just say we would have a problem, a big "ugly American" problem. Fortunately, I have little interest in Barcelona or I would feel quite defeated.
If tourism is really the factor driving up housing prices, then surely there are policy prescriptions that are far more effective than shouting at strangers. It is really disgusting, and it will backfire. Clamor at your political leadership, not random people who really could care less.

I wouldn’t necessarily change my plans, but would avoid any protests and maybe dine at restaurants away from the main tourist areas. Fortunately for me, I’ve been there and don’t feel a need to return. There are many other places in Spain one can visit where there are no protests.

The protests are having the desired effect of dissuading tourists from coming. I’m certainly in no rush to go to Barcelona…….

Barcelona has every right to take governmental measures to limit the number of tourists it receives by making it materially more expensive to visit. It can charge cruise ships even more than it does to dock at the city. It can impose even higher hotel taxes. It can limit through licenses or taxes even more the number of hotel rooms being built and Airbnb rentals. Go for it. The market system does work.

But had I been dining at the one of the restaurants involved, or owning one of the restaurants or hotels where police tape was being applied, I would have been terribly upset. And I suspect there are many in other parts of Spain that are heavily dependent on tourism who are not happy. The police in Barcelona should have acted.

At least in the short term, this episode will adversely affect tourism not just in Barcelona, but throughout Spain. And there are many people in Spain whose livelihoods depend on tourism. I was in Spain 15 months ago. Lovely country. And Barcelona and Granada were my two favorites. This incident was unfortunate.

Thank you to all for this conversation. It is helpful as I evaluate and make decisions. I will continue to follow this input. At this moment I am leaning toward eliminating Barcelona and the local hotel and restaurants I would have spent money at. I may change from Spain to another destination. I am not sure yet, but your feedback helps. I think the situation might be better in October with fewer tourists than in the summer season but I'm not sure. It will probably still be more than some want.

I can see how you would be wary of Barcelona right now (though all of this is likely to be a dim memory in October), but don't discount Spain for a second. It has so so much to offer, and I have never felt even a whiff of this kind of vibe on four visits to the country. I'd have no qualms about wider Catalonia either.

valadelphia is 100% right, please don't discount the whole of Spain because of this one incident on the Ramblas of Barcelona. This kind of anti-tourism sentiment really only exists in 1% of the country, the other 99% you will be welcome with open arms. I'd say parts of Malaga/Costa Del Sol, Ibiza/Mallorca, Tenerife, and Barcelona are struggling with overtourism at the moment, but outside of those areas it's all good.

I have no desire to return to Barcelona, I found it very overrated, however if I did then I would reconsider any plans based on these protests. I'm not seeing much opposition to the protests from the general public, police, local government etc so can only conclude that their is wider support of the protesters and their sentiment. Why should I spend my hard earned money somewhere where I'm viewed with such disdain?

Why should I spend my hard earned money somewhere where I'm viewed with such disdain?

Well for us in the general population of Barcelona, we see tourists not so much with disdain but indifference. We are population of 1.6 million that has 7.8 million visitors every year. That's four times our local population. For most of us locals, tourists have just become part of daily life.

For years, we've had a number of anti-tourism protests in Barcelona, without much international recognition or press coverage. Now they come up with the genius idea of the water pistols and now the whole world is talking about them and their plight.

The protests have been in the media long before the water pistol stunt and for me it's not about the water pistols it's about the vitriolic signs, graffitti and aggressive insults aimed at tourists coupled with the absence of condemnation from the wider public and authorities.

It may seem like a humouress little stunt to you but there are many people who view the actions as representative of the strength of feeling of the wider community in Barcelona and it's not a good look for the city.

I do not wish to pile on, but I largely agree with JC.

I have visited Barcelona once. I liked Barcelona very much. I left wanting to return one day (and hopefully I will). But at this time, I would not visit Barcelona (though if I had not seen Barcelona before, my feelings would probably be different).

First, having too many tourists anywhere is a great problem to have. Cities readily can regulate the number and types of tourists through taxes and regulations on tourist-rental units. Tourist taxes--stay in a hotel or rent a car in nearly any major American city and see how much you pay in taxes--are a big source of local-government revenue. And tourism dollars are the reason that tens of thousands have a job. If tourism in Barcelona is cut in half, how many restaurants will close and how many in the hospitality and food industries will be looking for a new job? And for decades, Barcelona campaigned for people to come visit.

Second, like JC, I want to visit places and spend my money where I am welcomed. Barcelona is a wonderful city. But for many, it is not their favorite city in Spain (it is mine). And in my opinion, it is not for visitors a first-tier European city like London, Paris, and Berlin (and I suspect many would add Rome, which I do not care for).

Third, I am not in Barcelona, so this may well be happening. But is there a strong reaction in the general community there that what happened was wrong and will not be tolerated again? How those in Barcelona and other places feel about tourists is ultimately their business. But it goes back to asking how I will be treated if I visit.

Now they come up with the genius idea of the water pistols and now the whole world is talking about them and their plight.

I think that the talk is less about their plight than about the viciousness and ugliness of the attacks. What kind of people engage in such childish contemptible tantrums? I don't see genius in the embarrassment of supposed tourists who really are not in the power positions for enabling change. I simply see unfair victimization. I doubt that many of us consider such activity innocuous. Some of the interactions escalated to confrontations. Some people should not be provoked into physical altercations.

Yet a few hippies with water pistols is all it took for tourists to
halt their travel plans to Barcelona.

I love that line. The media is always on the look-out for new and interesting stories and then it builds into a frenzy. I was in France in 2019 during the Yellow jacket protests and remember reading in the media on this Forum about fears and concerns regarding travel to France. Or people panicking during Brexit that travel plans would be interrupted and wondering if they should cancel.

I wonder if the majority of the protesters have no clue what the actual protests are about. If this is about anti-tourism, then singling out AirBnBs is the wrong way of going about it. If this is about the cost of housing, there are more contributing factors to this than AirBnBs. Here in the US, especially in protests on university campuses and in large cities, a vast number of protestors have absolutely no idea of what the protests are about.

This may make some of the hotel industry folks' blood boil, but staying at AirBnBs makes it easier to fly under the radar of the protestors versus staying at easily identifiable establishments which house a large number of tourists.

Yes, you should come to see Barcelona. And yes there are people that are upset with the tourists but I think you will be fine.

I was stuck in Granada during a National Strike in Spain and at first it was maddening but it was also a chance to see the real Spain-not just the touristy part we see but how certain Spanish folks feel. My hostel owner was very much against the strikes but a guy I was with actually talked with one of the protestors during the march and heard a different view of their unhappiness with the government at that time.

Rick wants us to be global travelers and to understand the world. Part of that is understanding the people of a country and their issues. Most people that go to Barcelona have no trouble or issues apart from pickpocketing.

This viral video is popular because it's out of the norm.

Before this foreigners didn't care about the overtourism problem or how it was destroying Barcelona. Now because of what these protesters did, whether you see it as a violent attack or viral marketing, it's got the world finally talking on travel forums, news programs, talk shows etc. and even as far away as on Japanese news.

Tourism in Barcelona, while economically beneficial in the short term, has brought about a series of negative effects that have significantly impacted the city. One issue is the unequal distribution of the wealth generated by tourism. Although the sector does contribute to the city's GDP (12%) and employment (9%), the revenue is not equitably distributed, and many of the jobs it creates are insecure, low-skilled, and temporary.

The influx of tourists has led to an overuse of natural resources and heightened pressure on the city's infrastructure and public spaces. This has strained the capacity of these facilities and services, resulting in increased maintenance costs and reduced quality of life for residents. Additionally, tourism has driven the gentrification process in Barcelona. The demand for tourist accommodations has interfered with the residential housing market, reducing the availability of affordable rental housing and driving up property prices, which displaces locals and alters the social fabric of neighborhoods.

The socio-cultural effects of tourism are also significant. The proliferation of souvenir shops, bars, restaurants, and other businesses that specifically cater to tourists has standardized commerce and eroded the unique character of local neighborhoods. This commercialization diminishes the city's cultural authenticity and has led to a loss of community identity in many neighborhoods. The Barrio Gotico is a shell of its former self, nothing more than a Disneyland attraction at this point.

Moreover, the concentration of tourism in specific areas, particularly the city center and popular sites like Sagrada Familia and Barceloneta beach, has caused overcrowding and disrupted the daily lives of residents. Public green spaces, which are essential for the well-being of city inhabitants, are heavily utilized by tourists, reducing their accessibility and utility for locals. The public transport network is similarly affected, with key metro and bus lines experiencing high demand, which can inconvenience regular commuters.

The negative effects of tourism on Barcelona include economic inequality, job insecurity, resource overuse, infrastructural strain, gentrification, loss of cultural authenticity, overcrowding, and disruption of daily life for residents. We don't want no tourism just sustainable tourism and management practices to mitigate adverse impacts and ensure a balanced coexistence between tourism and the local community.

I also agree with JC here, if you've already visited Barcelona in the past few years, consider choosing a different destination for your next trip to Spain. There is 90% of the country that is totally undiscovered by most tourists.

I'm with JC on this one. Barcelona and Madrid were the front runners for spring break this year, but we've taken Spain off for now. Our list of places we want to go is long, so no problem for us to pivot. If Barcelona is truly feeling over-touristed, there are ways to manage it (I am in Charleston, which also has this on-going tension). Barcelona will still be there in the future, and we'll plan our trip for when there's more local consensus about wanting tourists in Barcelona. And, maybe it will work out for the best if we come another time when we have more than a week.

absence of condemnation from the wider public and authorities.

Actually the ayuntamiento of Barcelona did condemn the anti-tourism action using water pistols, of course no one mentions this in the foreign media:

“Las autoridades municipales pidieron respeto para los visitantes a la vista de las imágenes de personas que increpaban y mojaban con pistolas de agua a turistas que estaban en terrazas. "Protestar contra el turismo masivo debe ser compatible con el respeto hacia las personas que visitan Barcelona”, subrayó hoy en la red social X el teniente de alcalde de Economía, Hacienda, Promoción Económica y Turismo, Jordi Valls."

Hah! That's interesting it was Jordi Valls. I know another Jordi Valls. I had to Google to see if he'd had a career change.

Something that might be relevant to this discussion on the "squirt guns".

"There are some stupid mistakes that only very smart people make, and one of them is the notion that a sensible argument seriously presented can compete with a really good piece of theatre." - Laurie Penny.

Your mileage will vary, but I think if you're traveling with the Rick Steves ethos in mind, you should not fear anti-tourism protests. You might even join them, as a temporary local. Many of the underlying issues have been presaged by the experience in Venice... the displacement of locals, the disruption of housing markets, particularly since the advent of vacation rental units, the proliferation of low wage jobs, the disruption of local economies and the dissolution of local culture. As a resident of Chicago (~2.7 million residents, ~50 million visitors a year), I see the same things and feel many of the same feelings, particularly as some administrations have preferred tourist economies over residents, seeing tourism as a boost to the jobs market, without considering the wages of such jobs.

For me, I'll go boldly, keep my head on a swivel like I do at home, and engage with locals.

But your mileage, your concern, and your feelings on the issue will vary.

The last statement, “ you may even join them as a temporary local” made me smile. I know the poster is sincere and respect what he means here. However, you are a tourist. No matter what euphemism people want to put in place, “traveler”, “temporary local”, etc, you are a tourist. You would be protesting against yourself.

So there is a severe drought.

"Don't waste water. There are water restrictions."

Yet locals are using water pistols (wasting water) to protest.

And in the 87-degree heat in Barcelona,
being spritzed by water might, in some circumstances, be a welcome thing.

And in the 87-degree heat in Barcelona,
being spritzed by water might, in some circumstances, be a welcome thing.

Not when you're eating lunch.

We don't want no tourism just sustainable tourism and management practices to mitigate adverse impacts and ensure a balanced coexistence between tourism and the local community.

Unfortunately I don't see how that can be achieved. Barcelona, like Venice et al has become a victim of its own success. The exponential growth of tourism and foreign travel has resulted in saturation everywhere that is popular with tourists, we can all point to places that were much quieter a few years ago. The question is, how do you define sustainable tourism and how do you achieve it?

Some of the families being squirted had children. Hotel and restaurant owners described the children as terrified. Children should never be targeted because they do not understand that they are being used as pawns in "theater".

Shooting people with water guns. Sounds harmless, doesn't it, though some water guns can look like real guns.

But I keep wondering what would have happened if some diners had thrown water or their beverage, say a glass of red wine, on the protesters. What do you think would have happened?

Cities like Barcelona are victims of their own success. For years, they marketed themselves as tourist attractions. And at this time, what economically does Venice have other than tourism? I understand that too much of anything can be bad and that tourism can get out of hand. But I doubt that tourism is the reason for economic inequality in a global economy that increasingly awards those with valued skills. Those holding hospitality-industry jobs they believe do not pay high enough wages can change jobs or acquire the skills to get better jobs--and if tourism goes, many of those jobs go, and they will be looking for another job. And gentrification can occur without tourism and in some cities can be a godsend.

Every city where some are complaining about tourism has the power to limit the number and types of people who visit. In short, there are constructive ways to deal with the tourism question. But blaming tourism for every economic ill is wrong. And the way the protesters acted in Barcelona was wrong.

"Every city where..."

There is no "every city". There are just a lot of different groups that live in a "city". Those groups don't all have the same say. Some groups are even happy the way things are. Most are somewhere in the middle. I'm done.

Anyone who has travelled a lot has probably encountered the occasional local who is vocal about their anti-tourist views. I think it's important not to let a minority of rude or grumpy people ruin your opinion of a whole city or country, especially if you haven't been to a place yet and are only thinking about going. Keep on travelling, as Rick would say, while always being mindful of some of the negative ways tourism might be affecting the places that you go.

Such an important and valid discussion! A lot of us live in cities that are “over-loved” destinations. Austin TX is one of them. Rents are unsustainable due to the investor model and air bnb trends for destination weddings and music festivals. But I can’t imagine spraying visitors with water guns. Anyway, I’m committed to visiting BCN for a few days. Booked a full price hotel, will buy only bottled water, take quick showers and eat at non tourist places. And I look forward to welcoming visitors here. I will approach my travel with some empathy… it’s a difficult time for so many people around the world. Peace❤️

Those of you with direct access, please keep us informed if the protests continue this weekend. Are they escalating or dwindling in strength? I am not sure whether this news will make the papers in the US again.

Thank you.

More important things than overtourism issues this weekend. Sunday is the Euro Cup final with Spain vs England. Plaza Catalunya will be converted into a giant watch party with big screens tvs to watch the Euro Cup final.

Be prepared for the city to erupt in celebration if we win. At least the parts of the city that still have locals living in it lol.

Lost in Austin, if Charleston locals were spraying people with water guns in July, any tourists in their right minds would appreciate it. Their clothes would already be wet with sweat.
And honestly, we would be happy if the tourists would remain "temporary" locals because way too many of them have moved here from places with much higher housing prices, which has driven prices for housing here out of sight. On the island where we live, a house(a mile away from the beach) that was sold for $1.6 million 3 years ago is now valued at $2.6 million. A 2000 sq ft house built in 1960 located blocks away from the beach is now close to $2 million. When that house was built, it was a summer home for a blue-collar family.

In May 2024 the wife and I rented an Airbnb in Barcelona on Passieg de Gracia for 2 weeks. We like having a kitchen, and a clothes washer, we like to shop in local markets, and we don't like hotels, with the maids slamming doors all morning, and kids running up and down the halls. We are quiet people.

We had no problems. In fact, that trip was one of my favorites that I've ever taken. I don't know how locals can tell you are a tourist, anyway. We don't walk fast, and we don't talk loudly. We don't wear clothes that scream "tourist." The squirting with water took place at a Taco Bell. Who goes to Barcelona to eat at Taco Bell?

In the future I think I'll not rent an Airbnb. I'll try an Aparthotel. I do not want to occupy a single room in a hotel for 2 weeks.

But in answer to jderlikowski, I wouldn't be concerned at all. It's a beautiful place. People were very nice to us.

In no way am I judging those who prefer an Airbnb-type unit--perhaps 20 years, my family of four rented an apartment in London (from an American company that went out of business during Covid). But short-term rentals are an issue throughout the world.

In New Orleans, which welcomes tourists with open arms, the city now limits the number of short-term rentals. The rules are many with residential zones and non-residential zones, limits on how many units there can be in a block or designated area, and limits on how they can be rented out.

And American cities--I know of no major city that discourages tourism--tax the heck out of visitors with high taxes on hotel rooms and car rentals. The purpose is not to discourage visitors but simply to raise revenue for local government.

If Barcelona, Amsterdam, or any other European city feels that tourism threatens its way of life, it can easily pass measures that severely reduce tourism. The city can readily limit the number of cruise ships by imposing exorbitant docking fees, introducing a lottery system for a permit to dock, or forbidding them from docking in or near the city.

Any city can easily reduce the number of visitors by increasingly exponentially hotel taxes. A problem here is that I suspect cities like Amsterdam and Barcelona still welcome business travelers. But if, say, Barcelona were to impose a hotel night of 75 euro per night as well as materially limit cruise ship access, too many tourists would not be a problem.

And regarding the price of housing in a city, I suspect the real driver is economic growth. In American cities where housing has become incredibly expensive, tourism is not the reason. The reason is that people are moving there to live.

“Any city can easily reduce the number of visitors by increasingly exponentially hotel taxes. A problem here is that I suspect cities like Amsterdam and Barcelona still welcome business travelers”

The city of Amsterdam has done exactly that. They increased the tourist tax to 12.5% of the room rate. So if a hotel room costs €250 per night, you need to pay an additional tax of €37.50
Cruise ships are charged €14 per passenger per day.

Hotel taxes in American cities like New York and New Orleans are in the 16 percent range. Is the principal objective to limit the number of tourists or to raise revenue for the local government? If you impose a hotel tax of 50 percent, you will see fewer hotel visitors, though it would affect business visitors and those from other parts of the Netherlands staying in Amsterdam.

From CNBC:

Overtourism protests might possibly spread

-- Mike Beebe

Thanks to all again. This conversation is very informative. Current plans include traveling to Spain as planned but cutting 6 nights in Barcelona to two if the situation is stable. Also, we will formulate a backup plan for avoiding Barcelona at all if necessary. Unfortunately for tourists, the Gaudi architecture and the best Picasso Museum in the world are not available elsewhere. Still as noted, there is more to Spain and we will extend our stay in one or both of our other two destinations. I purposely travel in the fall, when tourists are fewer and temperatures are better. I know all tourists don't have that option because of school.

Unfortunately for tourists, the Gaudi architecture and the best Picasso Museum in the world are not available elsewhere.

You might be surprised that Malaga, the birthplace of Picasso, also has a pretty good Picasso Museum. As for Gaudí style architecture aka "Modernisme", you can find it in other parts of Spain like Comillas, León, Reus etc. Barcelona does not have a monopoly of interesting things to see. I'm sure we will all be happy to help you out plan an awesome alternative trip in Spain :-)

My insider tip is look at Zaragoza, for an "under-touristed" city in Spain, with great architecture/food/history etc. No one there is "Anti-Tourist". It's one of Spain's best kept secrets - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqTIz9SkH6I

Update: Anti-tourism manifestation set for this Sunday (July 21) in Palma de Mallorca in Parc de ses Estacions, 10,000 expected in attendance, local gov asks that they not emulate the Barcelona anti-tourist actions.

Were there any protests in Palme de Mallorca or Barcelona this weekend? I haven't seen anything in the news I have access to.

This is from France24

https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20240721-spain-mallorca-mass-tourism

Were there any protests in Palme de Mallorca or Barcelona this weekend? I haven't seen anything in the news I have access to.

Yes, the anti-tourism protest in Mallorca yesterday saw an unexpected turnout, with 20,000 participants, double the anticipated number. The demonstrators clarified that they are not "anti-tourist" but rather "anti-overtourism."

The protestors highlighted that the "wealth from tourism is not being distributed" and is instead "accumulated by large corporations." They emphasized that "21% of the population is at risk of poverty, and the situation is becoming increasingly unsustainable. This is why the population took to the streets on Sunday."

According to recent data, "for every 1 resident of Mallorca, there are around 12 to 13 tourists visiting."

The primary demands include reducing the number of tourists, regulating and limiting the entry of cruise ships and planes into the Balearic Islands, imposing a moratorium, gradually decreasing the number of tourist spots on the island, controlling real estate transactions by non-residents, limiting the entry of rental cars, and conducting a load capacity study to align with the Islands' ability to accommodate the growing population.

Links:

https://www.abc.es/economia/segunda-manifestacion-palma-masificacion-mallorca-harta-20240722101121-nt.html

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/07/22/travel/mass-protest-on-spanish-island-mallorca-calls-for-limits-on-tourism/index.html

These articles and insights are helpful.