Barcelona Locals Protest Mass Tourism with Water Gun Demonstration

Frustrated by the surge in mass tourism, Barcelona residents staged a protest this weekend, using water guns to spray tourists and urging them to "go home."

Approximately 2,800 people gathered in the city centre on Saturday evening, marching through major tourist hotspots with the rallying cry, "Enough, let’s put limits on tourism."

Organisers of the protest expressed that the event highlighted the growing discomfort among locals regarding mass tourism. They blamed the influx of tourists for the rising cost of living and housing, making it difficult for residents to remain in the city. Neighbourhood associations, housing activists, and environmentalists joined the demonstration, citing "enormous negative impacts" on employment, society, and the environment.

According to Euronews, organisers claimed that the roughly 12 million tourists visiting Barcelona annually, many via cruise ships, have strained health services, waste management, and water supplies. In response, Mayor Jaume Collboni announced a plan to eliminate the city’s 10,000 short-term rentals by 2028, though activists argue this will lead to more hotels.

Barcelona joins other European destinations in protesting mass tourism. In the Canary Islands, activists recently went on a hunger strike against new hotel constructions, while Florence, Italy, has banned new short-term rentals to curb the effects of tourism.

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