Around 2,800 Barcelona residents held a second demonstration on Sunday against mass tourism, according to official reports from the Spanish tourist center.
Protesters cited rising accommodation and other costs in calling for restrictions on Spain’s lucrative tourism sector, La Vanguardia newspaper reported. Customers at restaurants popular with tourists were sprayed with water from water pistols.
Similar demonstrations have been held on the Mediterranean island of Mallorca, the Canary Islands in the Atlantic, and Málaga, in southern Spain, in recent weeks.
Protesters point to environmental pollution, traffic jams, overcrowding, water shortages and the overload of health and garbage collection systems.
In Barcelona, they held up signs reading: “Tourists go home. You are not welcome.”
The conversion of many houses into holiday apartments has increased rents. The increase in Barcelona over the last decade was 68%. Many residents have been forced to flee to dormitory suburbs on the outskirts and young people live with their parents.
Barcelona plans to completely ban holiday apartment rentals by the end of 2028, refusing to renew licenses. The owners are threatening legal action in response.
In Malaga, thousands of people demonstrated against the “invasion” of foreign tourists.
Spain expects 91 million tourists and visitors this year, almost double its population of 48 million. It is estimated that tourism generates 125 billion euros (136 billion dollars) per year.
