Thousands of citizens protest against tourists in Barcelona: Run home!
2024-07-07 19:35:19
TiranaPost
Demonstrations against the overcrowding of tourists that have already taken place in recent months in the Canary Islands and Majorca have already reached Barcelona.
Thousands of protesters in Barcelona were seen pouring water on popular tourist areas over the weekend.
The Spanish city has struggled with a housing shortage for years, with high tourism rates blamed by some politicians.
"I have nothing against tourism, but here in Barcelona we are suffering from an excess of tourism that has made our city unlivable," said Jordi Guiu, a 70-year-old sociologist.
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Protesters chanted "tourists, go home" and symbolically closed hotels and restaurant terraces.
They are calling for action to curb tourism ahead of a summer season that is expected to set new records both in the Catalan capital and in the wider Catalonia region.
Barcelona is Spain's most visited city and continues to struggle with overcrowding. The city sees an average of 32 million visitors a year, many of whom arrive by cruise ship.
