Mass Tourism Sparks Protests in Barcelona Amid Rising Visitor Numbers
Mass tourism tensions erupted in Barcelona on Saturday, as protesters sprayed travelers with water guns and canned drinks, while chanting "tourists go home." The demonstrators, frustrated by the city’s chronic overtourism issues, blocked hotel entrances and sidewalk cafes using thick police-style tape, symbolically attempting to shut down local establishments. Approximately 3,000 people, as reported by local media, marched through Barceloneta with banners demanding city officials "decrease tourists now."
The protest coincided with Barcelona’s peak summer travel season, where hotel occupancy rates neared 80% in July and August. With a population of 1.6 million, the city expands to accommodate over 4 million visitors during these months, according to Barcelona City Council data.
Spain saw a record-breaking 85 million foreign visitors in 2022, trailing only France, which welcomed 100 million. However, Barcelona has struggled with overtourism long before these figures. From 1990 to 2023, the number of hotels in the city quadrupled as annual tourist numbers surged from 1.7 million to 7.8 million.
Day-trippers add to the pressure, with Barcelona Cruise Port processing 2.2 million passengers in 2023, up from 560,000 in 2000. The increasing tourist influx has driven up local living costs, notably rents, which have risen 68% in the past decade. In response, Mayor Jaume Collboni announced a ban on Airbnb-style short-term rentals by 2028, potentially returning 10,000 apartments to the long-term rental market.
A 2023 report, titled "Perception of Tourism in Barcelona," indicates a growing disillusionment among residents. While more people still view tourism as beneficial, the gap between these views is narrowing. Half of the 1,860 respondents said they avoid popular tourist areas such as Plaça Catalunya and Park Güell due to the crowding. The report concludes that many now believe Barcelona has reached its tourism limit.
Original Story https://www.cnbc.com/2024/07/09/barcelona-residents-squirt-travelers-with-water-to-protest-overtourism.html
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