Rising anti-tourism sentiment in Southern Europe

Cities like Rome, Barcelona, and Athens are increasingly frustrated with the influx of holidaymakers, as the COVID-19 pandemic briefly alleviated tourist-related stress for local residents. 

Activists in various Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, and Greek cities are now protesting against the overwhelming number of visitors, some even using water guns and stickers to urge tourists to leave, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

The locals argue that over-tourism is escalating housing costs, driving gentrification, and depleting essential resources, such as water, especially in drought-afflicted areas like Barcelona and Sicily, where certain cities have started to restrict tourist access due to water shortages.

While local protests are growing, governments hesitate to implement sustainable tourism solutions because of the economic significance of tourism to southern European nations. For example, tourism accounts for 11.3 per cent of Croatia's GDP and between 6 to 8 per cent for countries like Portugal, Greece, Spain, and Italy.

 After two years of decreased travel, many people are now engaging in "revenge tourism," seeking to reclaim missed travel experiences.

An analysis by Allianz revealed that in 2023, countries such as Spain, Portugal, and Greece outperformed the European Union's overall economic growth—2 per cent compared to a mere 0.5 per cent across the bloc. Sandra Carvão of the United Nations' tourism agency noted that anti-tourism sentiments were rising even before the pandemic and are resurging now.

In late July, about 20,000 anti-tourism activists rallied in Palma de Mallorca, calling for a shift in the tourism model that they claim is harming the Balearic Islands. The total number of visitors in 2023 reached 14.4 million on the islands, posing a significant strain on the local population of around 1.2 million.

In Barcelona, smaller protests have seen activists spraying tourists with water, an action condemned by the tourism minister, who insisted it contradicted the culture of hospitality. Similar anti-tourism demonstrations occurred in various Spanish cities, as well as locations in Portugal, Italy, and Greece.

Cities are attempting to address the challenges of over-tourism through various measures, including fines and bans on certain activities. Some initiatives, such as Italy's selfie ban in Portofino or Rome’s no-sitting rule on the Spanish Steps, aim to deter tourists, while Venice's symbolic €5 entry fee sparked local outcry over the city's commodification.

Barcelona's mayor recently announced plans to eliminate short-term apartment rentals for tourists by 2028 to alleviate housing pressures. Other cities, like Amsterdam, have adopted successful strategies by restricting high-volume tourism and banning new hotel constructions.

Conversely, Copenhagen is encouraging sustainable tourist practices by providing incentives for eco-friendly behaviors, like biking or using public transport. Carvão suggests that a successful tourism strategy should balance economic, social, and environmental considerations while ensuring resident voices are heard and demand limits are respected.