Newsroom
Barcelona is grappling with a surge in tourism that has led to rising tensions among locals. Iconic landmarks like Sagrada Familia and Park Güell, along with bustling streets like Las Ramblas, are attracting 170,000 visitors daily, according to city authorities. Tourism contributes 13.5% to the city’s GDP but has become the third most significant concern for its 1.6 million residents.
“Barcelona is overly dependent on tourism,” said Daniel Pardo, a member of a local group advocating for reduced tourism. He noted that post-pandemic tourism has grown “too quickly and aggressively.”
Signs of unrest are visible throughout the city, with graffiti reading “Tourists Go Home” and an increase in protests against overtourism. Spain, which ranks as the world’s second most popular tourist destination, saw a record 85.1 million international visitors last year.
Recent protests have focused on events like the America's Cup, with thousands rallying against the city's economic model. Earlier this summer, photos of protesters spraying tourists with water guns sparked public outrage, raising concerns that the growing anti-tourism sentiment could turn violent.
"Violence is when you’re evicted from your neighborhood, or when you watch your surroundings disappear bit by bit," Pardo added.
Residents of a 120-unit apartment building near Barcelona’s central station have taken legal action to prevent their homes from being converted into tourist rentals. So far, 30 units have been affected, with the rest facing an uncertain future.
“We’ve had tourists vomiting from one balcony to another, noise issues from parties, and the smell of marijuana,” said Pamela Batigambe, who fears she may have to leave the city, where rent prices have jumped 68% over the past decade. “We’re not against tourism, just this kind of uncontrolled tourism that’s unsustainable.”
In response, Mayor Jaume Collboni announced in June plans to ban short-term tourist rentals by 2028, potentially affecting 10,000 homes. However, property owners’ association Apartur called the measure "coercion" and vowed legal action, demanding €1 billion in compensation if it goes through.
Despite the pushback, city officials remain firm. "We need to find different strategies to address overtourism," said Deputy Mayor Jordi Valls, stressing the importance of diversifying Barcelona's economy.
However, critics argue that these efforts fall short, especially with the city's controversial plan to expand its airport still in the works. "We’re not really tackling overtourism from a perspective of reducing or slowing it down, but by trying to spread it out over time and space," said Anna Torres Delgado, a geography professor at the University of Barcelona.
Torres Delgado urged that tourism development strategies should prioritize not only economic factors but also social and environmental impacts.
