A mass demonstration took place on Saturday in Barcelona, with approximately 2,800 people demanding curbs on tourism, according to the Guàrdia Urbana (Urban Guard). Protesters carried signs declaring, “Enough, let’s put limits on tourism.” Despite a largely peaceful protest, local media reported some tension as participants blocked entry to hotels and restaurants and squirted water at tourists, urging them to “go home”.
The demonstration was organized by anti-tourism groups including No a la Copa Amèrica, Zeroport, and Resistim al Gòtic. These groups are pushing for government measures such as halting tourism promotion and opposing major events like the Copa Amèrica, the Louis Vuitton fashion show, and Formula 1. They also seek the dissolution of the Barcelona Tourism consortium, a moratorium on El Prat Airport’s expansion, and a reduction in cruise ship arrivals. Protestors argue that mass tourism exacerbates housing prices, the cost of living, climate issues, and social inequality in the city.
In response, Barcelona Mayor Jaume Collboni reiterated the government’s stance on limiting tourism via his official social media account. He pledged to convert over 10,000 tourist flats into residential units, raise the tourist tax surcharge to €4 per night, and limit day-trip cruise passengers. Collboni also mentioned reinvesting tourism revenue into community projects like the School Climate Plan, aiming to improve air quality in public schools and support decarbonization efforts. “Our goal is to build a balanced and sustainable tourism model that benefits everyone,” he stated.
Statistics from the Guàrdia Urbana highlighted the scale of tourism in the city, showing that over one million tourists visited Barcelona in May 2024 alone.