Spain is one of the many countries in Europe that is suffering from over tourism, with the effects having a direct impact on the livelihoods of residents. The situation has become so severe that in many of the country’s most popular destinations, locals are doing everything they can to make it clear that tourists are no longer welcome in their communities.
Anti-tourism messages that read “tourists go home” have been plastered along the walls of Barcelona by locals who are frustrated with the mass crowds of holidaymakers overwhelming their neighbourhoods.
Last year, Spain welcomed a record-breaking 94 million visitors to the country and it remains the second-most visited country in the world.
However, the huge numbers of travellers have led to a housing crisis across the country, where locals are struggling to afford housing and therefore being driven out of their homes.
Over in Barcelona, one of the country’s most-loved cities, residents have been using water pistols to spray tourists, in a way to protest against over tourism.
Despite the campagins and demonstrations, Spain is expected hit a record of 100 million international travellers this year, making it possible for it overtake France as the world’s most visited country.
Eva Vilaseca, a local that lives alongside Park Guell, one of Barcelona’s main tourist attractions, says residents have had enough of the large crowds of tourists occupying the area.
She told ABC Net: “The feeling of being in a place constantly overcrowded with tourists is suffocating and stressful. It ends up generating anger, frustration and this kind of visceral hatred towards tourists.”
The single mother fears that she will have to “leave Barcelona entirely” as her lease has to be renewed next year but she worries her rent will rise.
Barecelona City Council has come up with a plan to ban all short-term holiday apartments by 2028 to address the housing shortage. As a result, 10,000 homes should become available for local people.
Jordi Valls, Deputy Mayor, said: “We believe we have to try to do several measures in order to improve the [availability of] housing. First production, then more land, incentivise the private sector to invest in social housing and affordable housing, and the other is banning tourist apartments.
“Tourists are welcome in the city but the tourists have to understand we have to manage this situation and the only way to control the tourists is to control the offer because the probably the demand is unstoppable.”