Tourists observing the ongoing protests in Spain got the last laugh as they were sprayed with water by Spanish nationals.
Parts of Spain are currently filled with frustrated nationals who wish to curb tourism over the busy summer season.
Protestors cited a lack of housing, unaffordable living costs and inadequate infrastructure as reasons for wanting fewer tourists in their neighbourhoods.
But those holidaying in Barcelona and Mallorca did not seem to mind the demonstrations, even though the Spanish nationals walked through the streets with water guns and smoke bombs.
In fact, some holidaymakers were relieved to see the water guns in use, claiming they offered welcome respite from scorching temperatures.
According to those on the ground in Spain, tourists were targeted at hostels and hotels with water pistols and “smoke bombs.” But some holidaying in the area did not seem to mind.
An American couple who were spritzed with water from the plastic toy guns called the blast “lovely” as it cooled them off in the 28C heat.
Tourist Wanda Dorozenski told NPR: “That’s lovely, thank you sweetheart. I am not going to complain. These people are feeling something to them that is very personal, and is perhaps destroying some areas (of the city).”
Spain’s Consumer Rights Minister Pablo Bustinduy has since said the tourism sector, specifically Airbnb, “cannot jeopardise the constitutional rights of the Spanish people”.
Previous protests in Barcelona, as previously reported by The Express, saw orange flares thrown at hotels and chants of “tourists go home” break out in the streets.
In a statement, a spokesperson for organisers Menys Turisme, Més Vida said: “We will keep taking to the streets and showing up in the key spaces of the tourism model—events, institutional acts, and symbols of the tourism industry.”
A post to X had someone feel for the Spanish tourists, but suggested the flares and water pistols were a step too far. They wrote: “Shocking scenes in Spain as anti-tourism protestors target visitors and hotels with water pistols and smoke bombs.
“Frustration is understandable but assault is not. Lack of housing, unaffordable living costs and pressures on infrastructure are becoming untenable for residents.”
Andreu Martínez, a protestor who also spoke to NPR, suggested the water guns were meant to do nothing more than annoy the tourists.
He said: “The squirt guns are to bother the tourists a bit. Barcelona has been handed to the tourists. This is a fight to give Barcelona back to its residents.”
Other members of the public believe the Airbnbs are a slap in the face of Spanish culture and tradition.
Cameron Naranjo, speaking to Sky News, said: “With the rise of social media and Airbnbs, it seems like we have given up our traditions, festivities, local spots and so on in favour of mass tourism that does not properly engage with Spanish and Catalan culture and our small local businesses.”
