'Barcelona is not for sale': Mass anti-tourism protests erupt as living costs go into a tailspin

Protesters in Barcelona have taken to spraying water on tourists as part of a demonstration against mass tourism. Demonstrators marched through tourist-heavy areas, chanting “tourists go home” and using water pistols, while others held signs saying “Barcelona is not for sale,” CNN reported.
Thousands of people joined the protest in the latest outcry against mass tourism in Spain, which has seen similar demonstrations in the Canary Islands and Mallorca.Protesters argue that mass tourism drives up living costs and diminishes the quality of life for locals.

The protest was organized by the Assemblea de Barris pel Decreixement Turístic (Neighborhood Assembly for Tourism Degrowth), a coalition of over 100 local organizations. They argue that these tourists increase prices and strain public services, while the tourism industry profits are unfairly distributed, exacerbating social inequality.
The group has put forward 13 proposals to reduce visitor numbers and transition to a new tourism model. These proposals include closing cruise ship terminals, increasing regulation of tourist accommodations, and ending public spending on tourism promotion.
The discontent in Barcelona mirrors similar protests in other parts of Spain. In April, residents of the Canary Islands protested against excessive tourism, blaming it for making housing unaffordable and causing environmental harm. These issues are common in many popular tourist destinations worldwide, which have seen record visitor numbers as the travel industry recovers from the pandemic.
While increased tourism can benefit local economies and hospitality businesses, it also brings significant drawbacks: more noise, pollution, traffic, resource strain, a lower quality of life for locals, and a diminished experience for visitors. Consequently, many tourist hotspots have introduced measures to combat overtourism, such as new or increased tourist taxes, campaigns to discourage problematic visitors, and attendance caps at popular attractions