Protesters in Barcelona make the news after using water guns to protest overtourism

By: Gelene Peñalosa - 4 months ago

Tourism has its pros and cons, like everything else in this world. And much like everything else, it should be regulated and moderated.

Sadly, for popular tourist spots such as Barcelona, tourism hasn’t been much of a good thing for the local residents. Quite frankly, they’re fed up with it.

On Saturday, July 6, 2024, protesters in Barcelona acted on their anger towards overtourism and took to the streets to make their sentiments known. Others carried signs that read, “Tourists Go Home You Are Not Welcome,” “Barcelona is not for sale,” and more.

This demonstration is similar to the ones held in the Canary Islands, Palma de Mallorca, and Malaga, where protesters had condemned the effects of mass tourism, which heavily impacts living costs, housing, and the standard of living of local residents.

Barcelona, a city in the northeastern part of Spain, and the capital of the region of Catalonia, is the most visited city in the country. In 2023, the city boasted a number of 26 million visitors who made an overnight stay. In the same year, Barcelona also received more than 4 million visitors during its peak months in July and August.

Barcelona is most famously known for its art and architecture—most specifically, the Basílica de la Sagrada Família, which was designed by Antoni Gaudí, is considered to be the city’s most famous landmark. Other buildings and places designed by Gaudí such as the Park Güell, Palau Güell, and the Casa Milà (La Pedrera) are also highly popular tourist spots.

Because of the number of tourists that Barcelona receives, residents in the city say that Barcelona has become unlivable. The housing market for locals, in particular, has risen to 70% in the last decade, as said by the city’s mayor, Jaume Collboni last June 22, 2024.

As a result, many of Barcelona’s residents are angry with the city almost exploding due to mass tourism and took action. A protest was held, which according to the Barcelona City Council, was attended by 2,800 people in the Barcelona city center.

What were they protesting for? In the words of the Assemblea de Barris pel Decreixement Turístic (Neighborhood Assembly for Tourism Degrowth), they want a reduction of tourists and a new model of tourism for Barcelona, which apparently include the closing of cruise ship terminals (day-trippers), the regulation of tourist accommodation, the end to public spending on tourism promotion, and more.

Some of the protesters, however, in place of placards and signages with different slogans, opted for a…quite unthinkable way of showing how angry they are at the situation.

With police-style tape and water guns.

People on the Internet were divided, most especially with how the protesters seemed to be aiming their anger towards the tourists. Others also pointed out how it is the government’s fault for failing to create policies that protect the interests of locals, while some were sympathizing with the locals in Barcelona.

To be honest, we should be giving the same energy to our own country and tourist spots. But, as always, not everyone is ready for that conversation just yet.

 

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