Thousands of protesters took to the streets of Barcelona over the weekend, expressing their frustration with the detrimental effects of mass tourism on Spain's most visited city. As diners enjoyed meals in the popular La Barceloneta neighborhood, some were unexpectedly soaked by water gun-wielding demonstrators. Videos showed patrons being forced to relocate within restaurants in order to escape the protests on Saturday, while other eateries were symbolically cordoned off by the marchers.

Carrying banners with slogans like "Tourists go home," the protesters demanded a reduction in the number of foreign visitors to Barcelona. They confronted tourists in front of hotels and restaurants, aiming to draw attention to the impact of excessive tourism on the local community. "I have nothing against tourism, but here in Barcelona we are suffering from an excess of tourism that has made our city unliveable," one demonstrator voiced to AFP.

The cost of housing in Barcelona has risen by a staggering 68% over the past decade, becoming a major source of contention for disgruntled residents. "The city has completely transformed for tourists, and what we want is a city for citizens and not solely in service of tourists," another protester shared with Reuters.

In an effort to address the concerns of residents, Barcelona's Mayor, Jaume Collboni, announced in June his plans to stop renewing thousands of tourist licenses by 2028. This initiative is aimed at making homes currently listed on platforms like Airbnb available to locals. The city welcomed over 12 million tourists last year, drawn by attractions such as the iconic Sagrada Familia basilica.

This demonstration follows similar protests across Spain's tourist hotspots. In June, approximately 15,000 people rallied in Málaga in the south of the country against over-tourism, while more than 10,000 individuals marched in Palma de Mallorca in May to protest the impact of mass tourism.

Tourism continues to surge in Spain, with over 33 million tourists visiting the country in the first five months of 2024 alone, a 13.6% increase compared to the previous year, according to Spain's national statistics office, INE.

Barcelona and Spain are not alone in confronting the challenges posed by over-tourism. Venice, Italy implemented a daily visitor fee earlier this year, becoming the first city to take such action to mitigate the impact of tourism on its local population.