Barcelona's protest against mass tourism escalates with water-splashing demonstration

Monday 28 April 2025 - 10:20

By: Dakir Madiha

Barcelona's protest against mass tourism escalates with water-splashing demonstration

Dozens of protesters in Barcelona made their voices heard on Sunday, brandishing water pistols and blocking a tourist bus as they chanted “tourists go home.” This notable demonstration, occurring as the summer season approaches, marks the first significant anti-mass tourism protest of the year in Spain's vibrant capital.

Gathered near the iconic Sagrada Familia basilica, the demonstrators halted the bus, spraying water on holidaymakers aboard. They unfurled a large banner reading “Let’s put out the tourist fire. June 15th – Day of struggle against touristification,” indicating plans for a larger upcoming protest.

Many participants were affiliated with various organizations and platforms from across Europe, who traveled to Barcelona for a forum addressing the challenges posed by mass tourism. Using megaphones, they voiced concerns about overcrowding and its detrimental effects on the local community, calling for urgent measures to mitigate the situation.

The standoff with the bus lasted approximately ten minutes before the Mossos d'Esquadra police intervened, detaining around 20 individuals.

This protest is not an isolated incident; Barcelona has grappled with the consequences of mass tourism for over a decade. The city has witnessed numerous demonstrations, with anti-tourism graffiti and slogans becoming increasingly common sights. Previous protests included notable events in 2017, when locals vandalized tourist bicycles and slashed the tires of tour buses.

Last summer, approximately 2,800 people marched along Las Ramblas, demanding a new economic model aimed at reducing the influx of tourists that has overwhelmed the city. On that occasion, some protesters used water pistols to spray tourists dining along the famous boulevard, an act that garnered significant media attention.

In 2024, Barcelona welcomed 15.5 million tourists, with a resident population of around 1.7 million. This means that during peak summer months, visitors can significantly outnumber locals. The challenges associated with such high tourist numbers include overcrowding, inflated prices, increased waste, and heightened pollution, particularly from cruise ships.

Barcelona is not alone in its struggle against mass tourism. Other Spanish cities have seen similar protests escalate beyond chanting and marching. Last July, residents in Seville covered Airbnb-style lockboxes in excrement, while in Málaga, anti-tourism stickers with messages like “go f*cking home” appeared throughout the city. In Mallorca, fake signs warning of “polluted sea water” and “dangerous jellyfish” were placed at beach entrances to deter visitors.

Last year, the Balearic Islands alone experienced five major protests against overtourism, with similar demonstrations occurring in Alicante, Valencia, Madrid, Granada, Ibiza, Girona, and Cantabria.

One of the primary grievances among locals is that tourism drives up housing costs and removes properties from the market for tourist accommodation. While protests in 2025 have primarily focused on the housing crisis, the interconnected nature of housing and tourism issues suggests that this recent demonstration in Barcelona may not be the last. As local residents continue to voice their frustrations, the impact of mass tourism on urban life remains a pressing concern.