In a series of creative demonstrations, protesters armed with squirt guns and rolling suitcases marched in cities like Barcelona, Genoa, and Lisbon over the weekend. The protests were fueled by outrage over the detrimental effects of tourism on local housing markets and environmental sustainability.
In Barcelona, thousands chanted slogans such as “Tourists go home” while parading along the Golden Mile, a street lined with opulent shops and hotels. Demonstrators resorted to water squirt guns to make their point, particularly targeting tourists outside luxury retailers like Louis Vuitton. Tensions escalated when protests resulted in scuffles and fireworks near hostels. A police blockade prevented further advancement toward Sagrada Família Basilica, a major tourist attraction.
Similar actions occurred in Genoa, where demonstrators rolled suitcases through the streets, and in Lisbon, where an effigy of the city’s patron saint was paraded to protest against a new luxury hotel planned near his church. Notably, protesters in Majorca disrupted tourist bus operations, displaying banners and setting off flares to raise awareness of their cause.
This wave of protests stems from workshops held in April by the Southern Europe Network Against Touristification, focusing on the adverse effects of overtourism, which includes escalating rents and degradation of local cultures and environments. Activists argue that mass tourism serves wealthy visitors at the expense of local residents' quality of life.
Joan Mas, a 31-year-old waiter from Barcelona, expressed frustration over the situation, stating, “These tourists have much more money than us—they come here to party and rent where we can't afford to live.” He emphasized the need for a change in the tourism model, voicing concerns that current practices prioritize drinking and hotel profits over the well-being of residents.
