On Sunday, vibrant protests erupted across Southern Europe, drawing thousands to the streets of cities like Barcelona, Genoa, and Lisbon. Wielding squirt guns in a cavalcade of color and noise, activists highlighted the pressing challenges their communities face due to the influx of tourists.
In Barcelona, demonstrators, donning banners with messages such as "Tourists go home" and "Tourism is stealing from us," paraded along the opulent Golden Mile, distributing water to bewildered passersby at luxury stores like Louis Vuitton. Meanwhile, in Genoa, protesters rolled suitcases through the city's narrow streets as part of a "noisy stroll," while in Lisbon, an effigy of the city's patron saint was carried to protest a new five-star hotel construction.
The protests, already familiar sights in Barcelona, arose from the growing impact of mass tourism. Residents expressed their frustrations over high housing costs, driven by the demand from tourists who rent properties at prices locals cannot afford. "We are struggling while they come here with much more money than we earn," stated Joan Mas, a local waiter. "The system is broken; it centers around servicing tourists rather than the community."
These demonstrations follow a series of workshops by the Southern Europe Network Against Touristification and are part of a larger movement aimed at addressing the quality-of-life issues arising from tourism's overwhelming presence in urban centers.
Overall, the protests reflect a deeper desire for change in the relationship between cities and tourism, aspiring to reclaim power for local residents through grassroots activism.
