In cities from Barcelona to Genoa, demonstrators are escalating their fight against mass tourism, signaling a growing discontent among residents regarding rising housing costs and environmental degradation linked to tourist influx.
Protests Against Mass Tourism Sweep Southern Europe
Protests Against Mass Tourism Sweep Southern Europe
Activists in Spain, Italy, and Portugal draw attention to overtourism's impact on local communities and housing markets.
On Sunday, vibrant protests erupted across southern Europe, focusing on cities heavily affected by mass tourism. In Barcelona, thousands brandished squirt guns and rolled suitcases in a symbolic march targeting the city's luxurious Golden Mile, protesting the adverse impact that an influx of tourists has had on local life. Activists shouted slogans like “Tourists go home” and “Tourism is stealing from us”, highlighting rising housing expenses and the disparity between tourists and residents.
Simultaneously, in Genoa, Italy, demonstrators participated in a “noisy stroll,” rolling suitcases through narrow streets, while Lisbon witnessed a procession involving a handmade effigy of the city's patron saint delivered to the site of a new five-star hotel. Over in Majorca, locals took a stand against encroaching tourism by halting a tourist bus, launching flares, and flaunting banners in defiance.
The protests stemmed from ongoing strategizing workshops organized by the Southern Europe Network Against Touristification in April and built upon widespread unrest seen last July, where squirt guns became emblematic of locals' frustrations. Participants argue that overtourism exacerbates quality-of-life challenges, including housing affordability and deteriorating environmental conditions.
Joan Mas, a 31-year-old waiter residing in Barcelona, articulated a common sentiment among protestors: “The problem is the tourism model itself: It’s all about serving drinks, about real estate and the hotel industry.” As diverse protests coordinate across southern Europe, the resistance against unchecked tourism continues to grow, echoing calls for change in how tourism impacts local economies and communities.
Simultaneously, in Genoa, Italy, demonstrators participated in a “noisy stroll,” rolling suitcases through narrow streets, while Lisbon witnessed a procession involving a handmade effigy of the city's patron saint delivered to the site of a new five-star hotel. Over in Majorca, locals took a stand against encroaching tourism by halting a tourist bus, launching flares, and flaunting banners in defiance.
The protests stemmed from ongoing strategizing workshops organized by the Southern Europe Network Against Touristification in April and built upon widespread unrest seen last July, where squirt guns became emblematic of locals' frustrations. Participants argue that overtourism exacerbates quality-of-life challenges, including housing affordability and deteriorating environmental conditions.
Joan Mas, a 31-year-old waiter residing in Barcelona, articulated a common sentiment among protestors: “The problem is the tourism model itself: It’s all about serving drinks, about real estate and the hotel industry.” As diverse protests coordinate across southern Europe, the resistance against unchecked tourism continues to grow, echoing calls for change in how tourism impacts local economies and communities.
