Barcelona — Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets across southern Europe on Sunday in a coordinated protest against the growing impact of overtourism, with Spain’s Barcelona at the epicenter of the movement.
Organized by the alliance Southern Europe Against Overtourism, the protests united activists and local groups from Spain, Portugal, and Italy in a cross-border call for change. Demonstrators in Barcelona brandished water pistols, set off smoke devices, and targeted shop windows in symbolic acts of resistance against what they say is the unchecked expansion of the tourism industry.
Protesters argue that mass tourism is fueling a housing crisis by driving up rents and forcing longtime residents out of their neighborhoods. Despite the visible unrest, local police—Guardia Urbana—reported only 600 attendees in Barcelona. Still, the movement’s momentum appears to be building.
Spain hosted a record-breaking 94 million international visitors in 2024, even as the nation grapples with a public housing shortage and a surge in unregistered tourist rentals. According to a May survey by the Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas (CIS), housing now ranks as the top concern for Spaniards.
Over 120 groups joined Sunday’s demonstrations, including housing advocates like Sindicat de Llogateres and environmental campaigners such as Zeroport, who oppose the proposed expansion of Barcelona’s El Prat Airport—a move expected to bring in 10 million more tourists.
Parallel protests erupted in the Balearic Islands, where tourism accounts for over 40% of the economy. Echoing earlier unrest in the Canary Islands, residents decried the environmental degradation and soaring costs linked to mass tourism.
Organizers criticized government inaction, noting that none of the 13 proposals submitted after last year’s protests have been implemented. For many, Sunday’s rallies were not just about tourism—but about reclaiming their cities.
