Squirt Guns for Tourists in Barcelona?

Mid-March 2024 traveler. No squirt guns in evidence. Neither did I experience anyone who was anything but appropriate, gracious, and helpful.

This was pre-high(est) tourist season, but venues such as the Parc Guell and Sagrada Familia were sold out, so there was no dearth of tourist numbers. I was there for 7 nights with only one day trip out of the city, so saw many sites and different areas.

I recommend you go to Barcelona with this 'baby'. That will show those Catalonians that when it comes to water guns, Americans fear nobody.

Have fun at the beach.

Thanks for the info, Chicago, and Roberto, I am LMAO!

I was in Barcelona in late July, right after this happened. I didn't see anything like this.

It was, so to speak, a publicity stunt.

Yes, in many cities locals have legitimate complaints about over tourism, and they also have unrealistic expectations as to what their government can do about it. Almost all of the protests have stated the same thing, they are not against tourists, they are simply asking their governments to take action on perceived effects.

Go, you will just blend into the other thousands of tourists and see no ill effects.

Thanks Paul, it's tedious to have to repeat the same message, nothing further to add to your response :)

I wouldn't avoid Barcelona based solely on one anti tourist incident. On my annual visit to Mallorca this year I missed the harassment of diners in Palma by angry demonstrators by one day and also some of the protests at various beaches across the island. I never experienced any animosity and never have in almost 20 years of travelling to Spain but that's not to say that others haven't.

It's interesting to note that there have been claims made this week by restaraunteers in Mallorca that a significant number of restaurants and bars are facing closure due to an unprecedented drop in tourist numbers this year. When I was there in May/June it was significantly quieter than it usually is and many are claiming that the reason is due to the much publicised protests and anti tourist graffiti. After all, if you were looking at somewhere to spend your money on a holiday would you choose Mallorca with its anti tourist protests or somewhere like Crete where there are no such protests?

In Barcelona last May probably before the heavy tourist season. Lots of police along La Rambla, did not encounter any pickpockets. Elderly relative had his wallet removed from his back pocket when he was there in April. Absolutely no problems with anti-tourist activists.

Unfortunately for the anti-tourist crowd, there are a lot of really awesome sites that are exclusive to Barcelona.

Jeez, I could think of 100 other places I'd rather visit in Spain than Barcelona (these days especially). Travel is more than chasing Unesco sites. For us seasoned travelers, I think we can afford to travel a bit more mindfully and responsibly. I don't want to be part of a problem if I can help it. There are great, authentic, naturally beautiful places all over Catalonia that most people don't take the time to learn about.

I’d hate to think squirt guns would scare off seasoned travelers. Go and have fun.

People are blowing this way out of proportion.

Spanish people are frustrated because of the inflation of housing prices in tourist cities. Many people, including hopefully you as well, are also against the kind of mass tourism that turns historic city centers into a string of Starbucks, fast food chains and tourist rip off places.

They’re not against tourism, or against tourists. Obviously tourists aren’t setting public policy in Spain, it’s the national or local government that they’re mad at, if they’re mad at anyone.

So just do your tourism in a respectful manner. Nobody will have a problem with that.

We were there Wednesday -Sunday this past week. Lovely kind people were the norm and I felt welcomed. September was a nice time to visit albeit still busy but not overwhelming. This city like many is over-loved so the key is to visit with that in mind. Still blown away by the Sagrada Familia ❤️

As I understand it, it was one incident of a couple of people using squirt guns on some tourists at a Taco Bell. It was a fantastic publicity stunt, but I think that one incident is being blown way out of proportion. We went to Barcelona for two weeks in May 2023, and met only very nice people. I felt very welcome there. I liked it so much I didn't want to leave and felt like I could happily live there. It is such a nice place.

And I agree with the previous poster about the Sagrada Familia. It was crowded, but I was blown away by the interior of that church. I've been to many places and seen many things, and I would put the inside of Sagrada Familia in my top 10 things I've ever seen in my life. Wow.

I have a close friend who was dining out with her husband at a cafe in Barcelona and had a group ride by on scooters shooting water pistols at people dining outdoors. She said no one at the restaurant got too worried about it but it happened to them last month.

As I understand it, it was one incident of a couple of people using squirt guns on some tourists at a Taco Bell. It was a fantastic publicity stunt, but I think that one incident is being blown way out of proportion.

The protests in other parts of Spain however have a much darker undercurrent. Graffiti spelling "kill a tourist", "tourists go home", "Mallorca is not you f***ing playground" and a multitude of signs and graffiti using the derogatory term for tourist "guiri" coupled with blocking access to beaches and harrassing diners it all creates an environment intended to make tourists feel uncomfortable and unwelcome. Some protesters claim that their issue isn't with tourists per se but rather with the lack of affordable housing however their actions are certainly targetting tourists. It may appear that they may have got what they've asked for, certainly in Mallorca where tourist derived income is significantly down on previous years and fears have been expressed by many bar and restaurant owners that they may go out of business. If things continue as they are then the protestors may find that they've shot themselves in the foot.