Home News & Events Barcelona Anti-Tourist Protests, Will They Affect Your Holiday?

Barcelona Anti-Tourist Protests, Will They Affect Your Holiday?

By
BCN GUIDE
-
0
Barcelona Anti-Tourist Protests, Will They Affect Your Holiday?
Man holding placard saying “go home tourists” in an anti tourism demonstration in Barcelona

Being a tourist has just become more difficult as locals fight back their cities from ever-increasing tourist numbers. Will you be welcomed or loathed in Barcelona? Read our blog and find out what is happening with the Barcelona anti-tourist protests.


Tensions seem to be rising between locals and tourists the last few months with the Barcelona anti-tourist protests. The rising cost of living and lack of affordable housing is fueling an anti-tourist movement in Barcelona. Many people thinking of traveling to Barcelona may be asking, does Barcelona want tourists to visit? Read on to find out if a trip to Barcelona is a good idea and whether you will be welcomed by locals.

What has caused the Barcelona anti-tourist protests?

Although there are many reasons for an anti tourism protests, there is one overwhelming one. The cost of renting apartments in the city. Barcelona has seemed to have exploded in popularity in the last few years. The Gaudí modernist architecture and up beat vibe, has made Barcelona a must-visit destination. As, like everything else, with demand comes increased prices. The possibility of getting 100–200 Euros a night for apparent rentals, rather than just 800 Euros a month, means landlords have gone where the money is. Using platforms like Airbnb, apartments in the centre of the city can attract high prices for the owners.

This means as more property owners choose holiday rentals, there is less reasonably priced housing available for locals. Younger people starting out their careers as waiters or shop assistants are almost paying their full salary on property rental. Obviously, when people have less money, tempers can flare up.

Other reasons for the anti-tourist protests in Barcelona include noise, pollution from cruise ships and a feeling of overcrowding in the city. It is fair to say, the main issue is the lack of affordable housing, but other tourist related issues are further reasons for the protests. Many residents feel they just want their city back.

Tourists to Barcelona

How Many Tourist Aparments Are They In Barcelona?

To give you an idea of the seriousness of the problem, there are over 10,000 legal apartments being let out to tourists. So, over 10,000 families could be housed, if those apartments weren’t used for tourist accommodation. The quoted figure is for legal licensed apartment rentals, we haven’t included the many illegal tourist apartment rentals. It is worth noting that Barcelona council aims to remove all tourist rental accommodation from the city by 2029. This in turn, undoubtably, would increase demand for hotels that would see increased prices for tourists due to higher demand. Hotels from May 2023 to May 2024 have already recorded a year-on-year increase of 11.7%.

If the council acts on its promise to remove all tourist apartment rentals from the city of Barcelona, it would have a positive effect on locals. Having over 10,000 more apartments would increase housing options for locals, reduce demand, and hopefully make renting a long-term apartment cheaper. However, as regards to over-tourism, it won’t solve some other problems. As tourists continue to descend on Barcelona in their masses, other issues will persist. The city will remain busy, noisy, and environmental issues such as the demand on water supplies in drought conditions will continue to be a major concern. So, the anti-tourist protests may still continue.

Environmental and mass construction issues

It will come as no suprise that locals are also concerned about the effect mass tourism is having on the local environment. The biggest of these concerns is the drought situation affecting many parts of Spain. As mass tourism increases, so do the resources needed to sustain the number of tourists visiting. With droughts and lack of water in many parts of the country, excessive tourism adds to the amount of water being used, leaving locals with a severe problem. These issues have played a major part within the concerns of the Barcelona anti-tourist protests.

Other concerns are over construction of resorts and hotels to meet tourist demand. Many coastal areas of extreme beauty are being bulldozed and large hotels and resorts built. Whilst more hotels, means more jobs, it comes at a price for the conversation of the environment. Much of these issues have already been seen before during Spain’s tourism boom in the 1960s and 1970s.

A demonstrator holds up a sign saying “go home tourists, your’e not welcome”

Are the anti-tourist protests a problem for visitors to Barcelona?

Generally, the Barcelona anti-tourism protests have passed peacefully. There have been incidents of tourists being verbally harassed, sprayed by water pistols or had their hotel entrance taped up! There hasn’t at the time pf writing been any physical violence or serious incidents against tourists visiting Barcelona. The general advice is to check for news on any upcoming anti-tourist demonstrations and avoid that area.

Most local habitants of Barcelona are used to tourists. There is a minority that wish to take a more proactive approach to the situation. Since tensions are high, it is best not to get involved with any discussions about this topic with locals.

Is there growing resentment between tourists and locals in Barcelona?

It depends on each local habitants view of the protests. If you asked business owners about the anti-tourist demonstrations, they will say they need to stop. On the other hand, if you ask a person that career doesn’t depend on tourism, they will probably side with the protesters. Again, if you asked a family whose basic income cant make ends meet, they will definitely side with the anti-tourist protesters.

In Barcelona, people gain from tourism and others lose out from mass tourism. The resentment from locals will depend on if they are gaining financially from tourism or if it is causing them extra expense. It is worth remembering that some residents of Barcelona may also be annoyed by excessive noise and how busy the city is becoming.

Are there anti-tourism protests in other parts of Spain?

Yes, there are active groups campaigning for an end to mass tourism. The Canary Islands, Balearic Islands and Malaga have all staged anti-tourist demonstrations. Many other parts of Spain are joining this movement for similar reasons, mostly due to the cost of housing rent. All demonstrations have been peaceful and good spirited. This isn’t just a problem for Spain, but the whole world. As mass tourism brings in much-needed income and jobs, it also has its negative side. Many countries around the world are facing similar issues as Barcelona.

Anti-Tourist Protests in Spain, Locations and Protester Numbers 2024
Tourist Protests in Spain 2024

Tourist Protests in Spain 2024

  • Date: April 20, 2024
    Town/City: Tenerife, Canary Islands
    Number of Protesters: Approximately 5,000
  • Date: June 2024
    Town/City: Mallorca, Balearic Islands
    Number of Protesters: Approximately 7,000
  • Date: July 2024
    Town/City: Barcelona
    Number of Protesters: Approximately 10,000
  • Date: Ongoing since April 2024
    Town/City: Various locations in the Balearic and Canary Islands
    Number of Protesters: Between 20,000 and 50,000
  • Date: June 30, 2024
    Town/City: Malaga
    Number of Protesters: Approximately 3,000

What’s the solution, so tourists can blend happily with locals?

The first thing is that tourists must play a part in respecting the city they are visiting. This means not raising voices whilst on terraces, respecting cultural and religious traditions, not drinking too much and keeping quiet when returning from a night out. The visitor to any city must respect that not everyone is on a holiday. If you really want to keep on the good side of the locals, try learning a few phrases in Catalan or Spanish. I have witnessed new friends being made when tourists attempt to order drinks in the local language. It seems to catch the eyes of locals and may even start a conversation with some new friends for the evening.

My final thoughts about the Barcelona anti-tourist protests

Some may call these anti-tourism protesters hypocritical. At some point or another, they will leave Barcelona and have the annual holiday. When they do, they will arrive at a beach, another city or rural beauty spot and become part of the problem they are protesting about. We all need holidays, and have a right to travel and explore our world. What is needed is a way of dealing with the issue when it starts to impact peoples lives negatively.

It seems clear that the main issue is with lack of cheap housing for locals. Since Airbnb hit the scene, there has been more property being rented out for tourists than locals. It is obvious that short-term rentals make more money than long-term rentals. Barcelona council is taking action by not renewing licenses for holiday apartment rentals in the hope of creating more long-term rentals. How this works out, we will need to wait and see. Spain has many short terms rental accommodation that simply are not licensed, or to put it frankly, illegal.

The other problem that could become an issue is that hotel prices may rise. If you remove accommodation from an already full city, then the demand for hotels will rise. Already hotel prices in Barcelona are very high, if you remove apartment rentals, then there will be more demand for hotels. It makes sense to visit Barcelona now, as accommodation prices in the future may rise. At the moment, the Barcelona anti-tourist protests have no sign of coming to an end anytime soon.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here