US Edition
Spaniards packing water pistols blame impact of mass tourism for housing crunch
- Protesters in Barcelona and other Spanish cities used water pistols to target tourists on Sunday amid growing anger over mass tourism's impact on housing.
- This public outcry stems from rising housing costs and an increasing share of homes diverted to short-term rentals, which now make up 14% of the rental market as of early 2025.
- Activists attribute the current housing shortage and loss of local identity to the prevailing economic system, while Barcelona's mayor continues to support the expansion of the city’s international airport despite ongoing protests.
- Txema Escorsa, a local resident, said, "It is tough for me to imagine what to do next," reflecting fears that tourism is taking away housing from people.
- These events highlight tensions between tourism growth, which brought a record 94 million visitors to Spain in 2024, and residents' demands for more affordable housing and protection of local identity.
91 Articles
91 Articles
Barcelona residents protest tourism with water pistols and smoke bombs
Thousands gathered in Barcelona's city center on Sunday (June 15) to protest the growing impact of mass tourism on local communities. Local Vania Arana said Barcelona needs "responsible tourism, not mass tourism."
Spaniards turn water pistols on visitors to protest mass tourism
The tourists who were targeted by water blasts laughed it off. Cities like Barcelona and the island of Mallorca have seen housing costs skyrocket as homes are diverted to the short-term rental market.
Thousands of Spaniards are once again demonstrating against mass tourism on Mallorca, Ibiza and the mainland. The currents would exacerbate the housing shortage and eliminate the character of their home. However, the tourist crowds also make the cash registers ring for many.
Mass tourism protesters in Spain aim water guns at visitors: ‘Tourist Go Home’
BARCELONA, Spain — Protesters used water pistols against unsuspecting tourists in Barcelona and on the Spanish island of Mallorca on Sunday as demonstrators marched to demand a rethink of an economic model they believe is fueling a housing crunch and erasing the character of their hometowns.
There have been protests in Granada, San Sebastián, Palma de Mallorca and especially in Barcelona, where everyone asks for the same things
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