Lorraine Williamson
On Sunday, Barcelona saw a protest against the growing impact of mass tourism in the city. Activists targeted a tourist bus at the Sagrada Familia, using water guns to spray the passengers.
The protest, which was part of a broader European movement, highlighted rising concerns about the effects of uncontrolled tourism on local communities.
Water guns and slogans: A disruptive message
The protest unfolded on Carrer de Sardenya, a popular tourist area. Activists prevented the bus from departing, hanging a banner with the message: “Let’s put out the tourist fire. June 15—Day of the Fight Against Tourism.” The demonstrators, who wore masks and carried stickers, were vocal in their opposition to mass tourism, chanting slogans such as “Tourists, go home.”
The event attracted considerable attention from passers-by, who watched as the protestors sprayed water at tourists on the bus. The incident lasted approximately ten minutes before police arrived on the scene to manage the situation.
A call for action from European activists
The protest was organised by activists from over twenty European cities, who had gathered in Barcelona for a forum discussing the negative effects of mass tourism. Alongside international participants, local residents also joined the protest. The group’s actions are part of a growing movement across Europe that seeks to address the negative impacts of tourism on urban spaces.
Police response and previous protests
The police, including officers from the Mossos d’Esquadra and the Guardia Urbana, intervened quickly. They identified and stopped the protesters, who were protesting in solidarity with residents facing issues such as rising rent prices and the loss of local businesses.
This protest echoed a similar action from July 2024 when thousands of residents marched through the city under the slogan “Enough is enough! Let’s set limits on tourism.” On that occasion, protesters also used water guns to target tourists and expressed frustration over the city council’s insufficient measures to curb the tourism influx.
Growing opposition to mass tourism in Spain
The protest is part of a larger, nationwide resistance to mass tourism, which has caused significant disruption in major cities like Barcelona and islands such as Mallorca and Tenerife. Local communities are increasingly voicing their concerns over the negative effects of tourism, including higher rents and the displacement of local businesses. Many residents feel that government actions have not adequately addressed the challenges posed by an ever-growing number of tourists.
As tensions rise, the question of how to balance tourism with local quality of life continues to be a divisive issue for Spain’s major tourist destinations.
Protests in Spanish cities against mass tourism