A person geese and a girl covers her ears as protesters interrupt their meal in Barcelona.Josep Lago | Afp | Getty ImagesMass tourism troubles hit fever pitch in Barcelona on Saturday as protesters threw pieces and sprayed vacationers with water weapons and canned beverages, whilst shouting “vacationers pass house.”The protesters — offended concerning the town’s long-standing issues of overtourism — used thick police-style tape to dam resort entrances and sidewalk cafes within the small group of Barceloneta in a symbolic effort to near the institutions.The group, which numbered some 3,000 folks in line with native media, additionally marched retaining a big banner difficult that town officers “lower vacationers now.”Movies and images display folks making an attempt to steer clear of the crowds — some strolling clear of their tables mid-meal — whilst others, together with eating place team of workers, verbally sparred with anti-tourism activists.The demonstration coincides with Barcelona’s height summer time commute months. In 2023, resort occupancy charges neared 80% in July and August, as the town of one.6 million folks swelled to house greater than 4 million guests, in line with the Barcelona Town Council.A protester in Barcelona on July 6, 2024.Paco Freire | Sopa Photographs | Lightrocket | Getty ImagesBut the subtle dance between locals and guests had spiraled lengthy sooner than that.Accommodations within the town quadrupled from 1990 to 2023 to house a hurry of vacationers, which surged from 1.7 million to 7.8 million all over the similar length, in line with the Barcelona Town Council. That does not come with the tens of millions who commute to the town’s outskirts too, it notes. The town additionally buckles underneath the load of the Barcelona Cruise Port as day-trippers descend at the town by way of the hundreds. The port processed some 2.2 million passengers in 2023, up from 560,000 in 2000, in line with its web site.A lady eating at a cafe in Barceloneta being faced by way of a protester.Paco Freire | Sopa Photographs | Lightrocket | Getty ImagesThe result’s a town during which many locals can now not come up with the money for to are living, activists say — maximum particularly on account of the housing marketplace, the place rents have greater 68% up to now decade, in line with Barcelona’s mayor, Jaume Collboni. Collboni introduced in June that Airbnb-style temporary area leases could be banned within the town by way of 2028. The transfer would upload some 10,000 residences again into the long-term condo marketplace.Two vacationers on bicycles being stopped in entrance of an illustration towards mass tourism in Barcelona on July 6, 2024.Paco Freire | Sopa Photographs | Lightrocket | Getty ImagesA file printed by way of Barcelona’s Town Council in 2023, titled “Belief of Tourism in Barcelona” presentations extra citizens really feel tourism is really useful, slightly than negative, to the town. On the other hand, the distance between those numbers has closed over time, it confirmed.Part of the 1,860 respondents surveyed stated they change the place they pass within the town on account of vacationers. “They steer clear of a popular house across the town centre (Plaça Catalunya, L. a. Rambla, Gothic Quarter, Raval, Outdated The city, Waterfront), in addition to the Sagrada Família house. With regards to explicit areas, Park Güell tops the checklist of the ones intentionally have shyed away from.”Even those that acknowledge the commercial contribution of tourism are changing into upset by way of the sheer choice of vacationers within the town, in line with the file.”An increasing number of folks consider that Barcelona has reached its tourism capability restrict,” it states.
