Tourism is "Killing" Barcelona
A graffiti in Barcelona, made amidst the growing protests.
What may seem like a playful disturbance is actually becoming a growing public outrage over mass tourism in Barcelona. In recent months, locals in the Spanish city have been taking to the streets, holding signs that say “Go Home” or “Tourism is killing Barcelona,” but also, even more surprisingly, spraying unsuspecting tourists with water guns. One moment, a traveler could be posing for a picture in front of La Sagrada Familia, and the next they are dodging sprays of water. These growing protests come as no surprise, as the city consecutively places in the top 20 most visited cities in the world, while also being ranked the 4th most visited city in all of Europe. And it’s not just Barcelona. These protests have also been occurring in other countries such as Portugal and Italy, where locals are also rising up against mass tourism.
Most of these protests have gained support during the summertime, when most travelers are booking their tickets to view the architectural masterpieces of Antoni Gaudí, which make the city different from any other. However, the growth of tourism has come at the biggest expense to residents who have lived in the city for quite some time. Landlords of apartment complexes all around the city are raising their rent or simply labeling rooms as “Tourist Rooms.”
Additionally, protestors have attempted to further explain their popular message of “ Go Home,” saying they are not against tourists, but they simply cannot afford to live in their beloved city anymore. With numerous apartments only being offered to visitors and increasing taxes on common home goods, the situation is expanding far past just housing. The BBC News cites an 80 year old woman named Pepi Viu who was recently forced out of her home.“I’ve lived here for almost ten years,” she said, “but the landlord wanted more money. I can’t find anything I can afford.” Now, she lives in a hotel, waiting and hoping for a better and cheaper place to appear on the market soon. Meanwhile, another resident cited by The BBC News, named Marina, shared that she participated with many others on the streets and held a sign high in the sky that said, “Your Airbnb used to be my home.”
Though not everyone agrees with the protests, landlords are feeling the increasing pressure and arguing that they are being unfairly blamed for the housing crisis. One by the name of Jesus Pereda owns two small apartments near the center of the city. He doesn’t live in them, but he rents them out to tourists, and that’s how he makes a living. “Managing these flats is my job,” he says. “It’s how I support my family.” He says he isn’t trying to hurt anyone, but if his tourist license is gone, his income will follow shortly behind. A big worry within the city is that by 2028, Barcelona is planning on banning all short-term apartment rentals.
Many important perspectives have arisen from these growing protests that began with water guns, and the question is whether the future ban is the right thing to do. Is this the correct balance between locals and visitors?