Water Gun Protests in Spain Target Tourists Over Rising Housing Costs
Residents in Spain and other top European destinations held protests on June 15 to speak out against mass tourism, which they say is driving up housing costs and pushing out locals. In cities like Barcelona and Palma, Mallorca, protesters shot water guns at tourists as part of the demonstration. Many chanted slogans like “Everywhere you look, all you see are tourists.”
About 5,000 people gathered in Palma, the capital of Mallorca, a popular spot for British and German vacationers. In Barcelona, demonstrators blew whistles, carried signs reading “One more tourist, one less resident,” and placed stickers on hotel doors that said “Tourist Go Home.”
Protests also took place in Granada, San Sebastián, Ibiza, Venice, and Lisbon. The rallies marked the first coordinated action across southern Europe against the impact of overtourism.
Spain welcomed 94 million visitors in 2024, and tourism makes up 12% of its GDP. The government recently ordered Airbnb to remove nearly 66,000 illegal listings. Barcelona plans to cancel all 10,000 short-term rental licenses by 2028.
Luis Apolo Staff Reporter junior/1751271458/1613367813
1. What did protesters use to spray tourists?
2. Why are locals upset about tourism?
3. How many tourists visited Spain in 2024?
4. What is Spain doing about illegal rentals?
1. Do you like to travel to new places?
2. What problems can tourism cause?
3. How can we travel and be respectful?
4. Should tourists learn local rules?
Residents in Spain and other top European destinations held protests on June 15 to speak out against mass tourism, which they say is driving up housing costs and pushing out locals. In cities like Barcelona and Palma, Mallorca, protesters shot water guns at tourists as part of the demonstration. Many chanted slogans like “Everywhere you look, all you see are tourists.”
