Why are protesters squirting water at tourists in Barcelona?
Those hoping for a peaceful getaway in Barcelona were met instead with water guns, as furious locals protested against mass tourism.
Thousands have been demonstrating against the influx of tourists to the Spanish town, by squirting diners in popular areas with water pistols and chanting ‘go home’.
Spanish civilians have become fed up with the lack of affordable housing in their cities, resulting in the mayor of Barcelona pledging to eliminate short-term tourist lettings within five years.
The drastic move is in response to rising rents in the city, meaning that locals are struggling to afford to find anywhere to live.
Last year, 15.6 million tourists headed to Barcelona, one of the world’s most vibrant beach cities.
Rents in Barcelona have surged 68% in the past 10 years, while the cost of buying a house rose by 38%.
The result? Infuriated locals, who are now protesting en masse in some of the most popular tourist areas in Spain.
It’s not just Barcelona which is witnessing anti-tourism protests. Mallorca locals blocked an Instagram-famous beach and chanted ‘tourists go home’ last month.
A movement against ‘overtourism’ has been ongoing in Barcelona since 2018, and just this March riot police and protesters – chanting ‘Barcelona is not for sale’ -clashed.
One man was handcuffed by after punching an officer who also appeared to have earlier struck him and a woman with a baton.
Protesters also took to the streets of the Greek capital in May, spraying graffiti against holidaymakers.
But tourism in Spain brings in roughly 15% of the country’s GDP, reaching an all-time high in August 2023.
It may be a money-making machine – short term rentals, tourist traps in the city – but locals have had enough.
2,800 people joined the march in Barcelona this weekend against over tourism and housing issues.
‘Barcelona is not for sale’ and ‘Tourists go home’ were popular chants.
Resident Isa Miralles told Reuters: ‘Local shops are closing to make way for stores that do not serve the needs of neighbourhoods. People cannot afford their rents.’
Critics of the protests have said they are ‘short sighted and counterproductive’.
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