Barcelona, Spain expects to receive around 41 million visitors this summer, a new record, according to estimates by the Ministry of Tourism, amid a wave of protests against the “excessive tourism” which has originated in the country’s main tourist cities.
“Enough! Let’s put limits on tourism”, “Tourism decline now!”, “Tourists out of our neighborhoods”, “One more tourist, one less neighbor” and “Tourists, go home” are some of the slogans that have been heard for approximately three weeks in cities such as Barcelona, Cadiz, Balearic Islands, Canary Islands, Malaga and Palma de Mallorca.
In these cities, favourites for tourists, Spaniards are protesting against “mass tourism”, which they say is to blame for the lack of affordable housing and the congestion they suffer during peak seasons.
Now, the Ministry of Tourism expects a visit of almost 41 million foreigners, 13% higher than the previous season, which will generate about revenues of up to 59 billion eurossome $64 billion, 22% more than in 2023.
Negative effects of tourism
Although the Minister of Tourism, Jordi Hereu, recognises the “success of the tourism model” and the strong increase in sector spending, “above the number of visitors”, he does not dismiss the “Negative effects” which involves the country.
Spain, the world’s second tourist destination after France, with 85.1 million foreign visitors in 2023, will see a 5.3% year-on-year increase in tourism revenue this year, and 4.6% overall, compared to 2023, exceeding “200 billion euros” for the first time. This would increase its share in the Spanish economy by 13.2%according to the Exceltur tourism alliance.
However, the economic benefits that the sector represents lose value in the face of citizen complaints, which expose noise, congestion of transport infrastructure, environmental damage and the increase in rental prices that, in recent years, has reached a 68% increase in Barcelona, for example, according to the City Council.
Why are people protesting against tourism in Spain?
The protesters, who last weekend They threw objects and sprayed water at the tourists In Barcelona, they demand, among other things, a change in the economic model that will reduce the influx of tourists to the city.
“I have nothing against tourismbut with the excess of tourism that we are suffering in Barcelona, yes, because that makes the city unlivable,” he told the AFP Jordi Guiu, a 70-year-old sociologist, who participated in the march on Saturday, July 6.
Last weekend at least 20,000 citizens took to the streets of Barcelona, according to the Neighbourhood Assembly for Tourism Decrease. The anti-tourism protesters left people in discontent over the housing shortage, overcrowding and high costswhich affect the quality of life of citizens.
“Tourism and hotels are the groups that really make money, but all the people are in a poor situation and don’t have enough money to live on. That’s the problem,” said protester Joan Navarro-Bertran.
End of tourist apartments
The Residents’ Assembly for Tourism Decrease, which is leading the protests in the Catalan capital, claims that tourists are driving up prices and putting pressure on public services. It also claims that the profits generated by the tourism sector are distributed “unfairly” and increase social inequality in the city.
To curb the number of visitors to the city and promote a new tourism model, the organization has made a series of proposals, including: the closure of cruise terminals, a Greater regulation of tourist accommodationand the end of public spending on tourism promotion.
In order to facilitate access to housing for its residents, the main demand of citizens, the mayor of Barcelona, Jaume Collboni, announced a plan to end tourist apartments by 2029.
This measure, in accordance with the latest regulation of the Parliament of Catalonia, will prevent the renewal of tourist apartment licenses, which will allow around 10,000 homes to be put on the real estate market, which is the number that currently have tourist use licenses.
Source: With information from AFP / La Vanguardia / CNN / The New York Times
