Protests in Barcelona: Activists put tourists under pressure!

Protests in Barcelona: Activists put tourists under pressure!

In the Spanish metropolis of Barcelona on the weekend of June 14th and 15th, 2025, more than a thousand people protested against unbridled mass tourism. The demonstrators, organized by activists, showed their anger and frustration over the negative impact of tourism on the quality of life of local residents. Barcelona, ​​which is the second most popular holiday destination in the world after Paris, continues to attract millions of tourists every year.

In the first quarter of 2025, Spain recorded a 5.7 percent increase in international guests compared to the previous year, bringing a total of 17.1 million arrivals. Campaigners are calling for a healthier balance between tourists and locals, as mass tourism contributes to problems such as overcrowded cities and beaches, as well as rising living costs and a lack of housing.

Protest actions and activist demands

The protests in Barcelona were not the first of their kind. Thousands of people demonstrated against the same challenges last year. Slogans like "Enough! Let's put limits on tourism" illustrate the euphoria of the demonstrators. In current protests, activists not only use water guns to spray tourists and tourist buildings, but also smoke flares to draw attention to their concerns. In May they even surrounded a tourist bus and blocked it from traveling.

The social and economic situation for the locals has worsened dramatically. A 68 percent increase in rental prices over the last ten years is putting a strain on the budgets of many households. This development cannot only be observed in Barcelona - similar protests are also taking place in other Spanish holiday regions such as Mallorca and the Canary Islands. The number of participants in an earlier demo rose to around 8,000.

Authorities' response and the future regulatory environment

In view of the problem, the Barcelona city administration plans to stop allowing new holiday apartments for tourists from 2028. Over 10,000 holiday apartments are to be available again for long-term tenants in order to relieve the strained real estate market and improve the lives of local residents. In the recent protests, police estimated the number of participants at 600, while organizers reported over 1,000 people.

Demonstrating activist Elena Boschi made it clear that tourists “should have a certain level of fear about the situation.” This clear message highlights the protesters' urgency to raise awareness of the problems of mass tourism.

Overall, it is clear that the pressure on the tourist hotspots in Spain is growing. Generations of investment in infrastructure and job creation are now at odds with the needs of locals suffering from high costs of living and a changing urban landscape. Any form of resistance could thus become a key tactic to make citizens' concerns more heard.

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