Europe's battle with impact of mass tourism

This summer, Europe has witnessed a surge in anti-tourism protests, with demonstrations erupting in cities like Barcelona, Mallorca, and Athens.

Anti-tourism protests have surged across Europe this summer, with notable demonstrations in the Netherlands, Greece, and Spain, Caliber.Az reports citing the foreign media.

In early July, Barcelona's vibrant tourist hotspots were the backdrop for protests where demonstrators used water pistols to spray unsuspecting visitors, shouting slogans like “tourists go home.”

More recently, thousands of protesters gathered on the Spanish island of Mallorca, accusing the island’s tourism model of "impoverishing workers while enriching only a few." The protests reflect growing discontent over the economic and social impacts of tourism on local communities.

Overtourism backlash

At the heart of the growing anti-tourism protests across Europe is a pressing issue: escalating rents and property prices that are making home ownership increasingly unattainable for many residents.

Carlos Ramirez, a school teacher in Barcelona, has been saving for his first home for years, relying on his “decent” state salary. Yet, as prices in the Catalan capital continue to soar, Ramirez, 26, fears he will be priced out of the city he calls home. “Everyone I know lives here,” he told CNN. “But the only way you can afford to live right now in Barcelona is by sharing a flat with two, three, or even four people.”

Like many residents in Southern Europe, Ramirez attributes the soaring costs to mass tourism. “It’s becoming more and more difficult for locals, especially younger people, to have their own place,” he said. “As the years have gone by, more and more tourists have come.”

In Barcelona, rents have surged by 68 per cent over the past decade, according to the city’s mayor, Jaume Collboni. This trend is mirrored in other European cities that double as popular summer destinations. Frustrated by the situation, some residents have resorted to extreme measures. In April, locals in the Spanish Canary Islands staged a hunger strike to protest against excessive tourism.

The July 6 protests in Barcelona, where demonstrators used water pistols on visitors, drew significant international attention. Ramirez felt a palpable sense of resentment among the demonstrators. “I was pleased to see so many residents join the protest,” he said, noting that about 2,800 people participated according to Barcelona’s City Council. “A lot of people, a lot of companies, are now warning tourists about visiting Spain because of hostility and all of that. Frankly, I think it worked.”

Antje Martins, a sustainable tourism expert from the University of Queensland, believes these protests could impact tourist behavior. “Barcelona now has a really bad reputation among tourists who may be scared to visit,” she said.

However, Eduardo Santander, CEO of the European Travel Commission, argues that such incidents are “isolated” and do not reflect the broader reality of Spain or Europe. Martins counters that these protests highlight deeper issues: “They’re a broader reflection of tourism that is not sustainably managed,” she said. “When residents revolt against tourism, it’s often because they see no benefits from the influx of visitors.”

Ramirez shares this view, emphasizing that the protests are not directed at tourists but at the government’s policies. “We want to pressure our government to change policies,” he said. According to Martins, the underlying issues are structural, not personal, with many residents working in tourism-related jobs and earning lower wages.