Aquativism? Thousands of Barcelona residents took to the streets this weekend to protest against what they perceive as overtourism in their city. "The demonstrations, involving about 2,800 participants, featured protesters using water pistols to spray visitors and drive them from outdoor dining areas.
Video footage shared by The Telegraph shows bewildered tourists hastily packing their belongings and leaving restaurant tables as protesters approached, wielding water pistols and chanting anti-tourism slogans. Demonstrators carried signs with messages such as "Tourists go home," "Barcelona not for sale," and "My city's not your fun park." A massive banner reading "Decrease tourism now!" and "Mass tourism kills the city" was also visible, along with some protesters carrying Palestinian flags, likely drawing a parallel between the impact of overtourism and the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.
The protests come as Barcelona officials announce a second increase this year to the daily tourist charge. Starting in October, visitors will be required to pay a flat rate of €4 ($4.35) per night for up to seven nights, up from the current €3.25 ($3.53) implemented in April. This fee is in addition to a regional tourist tax, which varies based on accommodation type.
"We aim to promote quality tourism," said a city council spokesperson, explaining the rationale behind the tax increase.
The demonstrators are calling for a fundamental shift in Barcelona's economic strategy to both reduce the annual influx of visitors and tackle the city's rising cost of living. Over the past decade, rental prices in the popular Spanish destination have surged by 68%, while property purchase costs have increased by 38%.
Recently, Barcelona's Mayor Jaume Collboni announced a bold plan to prohibit tourists from renting vacation apartments by 2028. As Spain's top destination for international tourists, the city aims to implement measures to curb escalating housing expenses and enhance residents' quality of life.
Mayor Collboni stated that Barcelona will revoke the licenses of all 10,101 currently approved short-term rental properties by November 2028. At a city government event, he emphasized, "We're addressing what we consider to be Barcelona's most pressing issue."
Tourism in Barcelona has seen a significant uptick, with over 12 million visitors in 2023 alone – a 7% increase compared to four years ago. While the tourist tax currently generates about €95 million ($103 million) annually, Catalan News reports that approximately €142 million ($154 million) is spent on tourist-related expenses such as cleaning, security, and additional transportation.
Tensions have continued to rise across Spain, as evidenced by the recent protest in Malaga at the end of June, with over 10,000 demonstrators rallying against the high cost of living, echoing similar concerns to those voiced in Barcelona.
