Latest news with #AssemblyofNeighbourhoodsforTourismDegrowth
The Irish Sun
20 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Furious anti-tourist protesters blast holidaymakers & hotel workers with water guns & hurl smoke bombs in Barcelona
HUNDREDS of fed-up locals have descended onto the streets of Barcelona - blasting holidaymakers with waterguns and launching smoke bombs. Under the slogan " homes , and future ", the demonstrations in the Spanish capital came amid a huge wave of anti-tourism protests across the country. Advertisement 11 Protesters shoot toy water guns during a demonstration against mass tourism in Barcelona, June 15 11 A hotel worker reacts as demonstrators shoot water pistols and coloured smoke 11 Protesters use water guns as a symbol against mass tourism 11 A protester holds a banner that reads 'Tourism is killing Barcelona' Credit: Getty 11 The march in Barcelona come amid a wave of similar protests across the country Credit: Getty Similar protests occurred this time last year, with both demonstrations being organised by the Assembly of Neighbourhoods for Tourism Degrowth. A spokesperson for the group said they had encouraged members to bring water pistols, which he said had become "a popular symbol of resistance against the Daniel Pardo Rivacoba added that the tourism industry was "incompatible with life", and demanded " Astonishing images showed scores of furious activists calling for the decline of tourism in their city and across Spain. Advertisement READ MORE WORLD NEWS Pointing their loaded water guns in the air and at holidaymakers, they called for the boycott of AirBnB and the end of rampant tourism. Some were seen refilling their weapons using public water fountains, while others even taped up hostels in an attempt to keep tourists locked in their accommodations. Riot police lined up to monitor the situation and keep the marches in check. Demonstrators also used smoke flares and vandalised shops such as the Louis Vuitton store in Passeig de Gràcia. Advertisement Most read in The Sun Exclusive The march set off from Jardinets de Gràcia just after 12:30pm local time. Workers rights amid soaring Anti-tourist protesters take over sightseeing coach in Majorca with smoke bombs ahead of mass march tomorrow Unions representing migrant workers, street vendors and cleaners took part in the huge protests. Spokesperson Pardo also said that the tourism industry "subjects the people who work in it to the worst working and salary conditions". Advertisement He cited the housing crisis as another devastating impact of mass tourism. The controversial expansion of Barcelona-El Prat Airport has also been a flashpoint for locals. A spokesperson for one of the campaigns against this expansion, called Zeroport, emphasised that this message was being delivered to politicians and not to tourists. Ariadna Cotèn said: "Tourists are not really to blame for this situation happening in Advertisement But her message didn't stop the hundreds of raging tourists who shouted in English for tourists to "go home". 11 Demonstrators gather during the protest against mass tourism Credit: Reuters 11 People attach stickers against tourists during the demonstration Credit: Alamy 11 Riot police keep watch on in the demonstrations Credit: Getty Advertisement They held placards with messages such as "one more tourist, one less neighbour", and "tourism is killing Barcelona". Anti-tourism protests also unfolded on Sunday in holiday hotspot Ibiza, Donostia-San Sebastián, Palma, Granada, and the Pyrenees. But they have also spread across Europe - with some taking place in Lisbon, Portugal and across Italy this weekend. It comes just one day after Advertisement The raging locals said the popular Spanish island is overwhelmed by tourists and driven by profit over local needs. These demonstrations came after Majorca, one of the centres of the protests last year, hosted the first mass protests of the year. Nearly 40 organisations from the Balearic Islands are believed to have marched in Palma. Advertisement What is overtourism? Overtourism refers to the phenomenon where a destination experiences a volume of tourists that exceeds its manageable capacity The term is often used to describe the negative consequences of mass tourism, which includes overcrowding and environmental issues As a result, popular destinations have become less enjoyable for both visitors and locals Local communities, in particular, bear the brunt, facing rising costs and a depletion of resources In response, national and local governments have started to implement measures to reduce overtourism Some solutions include: Safeguarding historical and heritage sites Promoting off-peak travel Tourism caps and regulations Promoting lesser-known destinations Later, in May, thousands Spain 's third wave of protests of the year. The march carried the slogan: "The Canary Islands are not for sale, they are loved and defended." Other banners read: "The Canary Islands have a limit and so does our patience" and "Enough is enough!" Advertisement Spain 's anti-mass tourism movement began gaining serious momentum in April 2024 - particularly in popular tourist destinations. Locals have been demanding an end to the problems associated with mass tourism, including pollution, traffic chaos, the lack of affordable housing and low wages for tourism workers. 11 Red smoke bombs were used in the capital Credit: AFP 11 Protesters fill water guns on a fountain Credit: Getty Advertisement 11
Scottish Sun
20 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Furious anti-tourist protesters blast holidaymakers & hotel workers with water guns & hurl smoke bombs in Barcelona
HUNDREDS of fed-up locals have descended onto the streets of Barcelona - blasting holidaymakers with waterguns and launching smoke bombs. Under the slogan "Tourism steals our bread, homes, and future", the demonstrations in the Spanish capital came amid a huge wave of anti-tourism protests across the country. 11 Protesters shoot toy water guns during a demonstration against mass tourism in Barcelona, June 15 11 A hotel worker reacts as demonstrators shoot water pistols and coloured smoke 11 Protesters use water guns as a symbol against mass tourism 11 A protester holds a banner that reads 'Tourism is killing Barcelona' Credit: Getty 11 The march in Barcelona come amid a wave of similar protests across the country Credit: Getty Similar protests occurred this time last year, with both demonstrations being organised by the Assembly of Neighbourhoods for Tourism Degrowth. A spokesperson for the group said they had encouraged members to bring water pistols, which he said had become "a popular symbol of resistance against the plundering of the tourism monoculture". Daniel Pardo Rivacoba added that the tourism industry was "incompatible with life", and demanded "tourism degrowth now". Astonishing images showed scores of furious activists calling for the decline of tourism in their city and across Spain. Pointing their loaded water guns in the air and at holidaymakers, they called for the boycott of AirBnB and the end of rampant tourism. Some were seen refilling their weapons using public water fountains, while others even taped up hostels in an attempt to keep tourists locked in their accommodations. Riot police lined up to monitor the situation and keep the marches in check. Demonstrators also used smoke flares and vandalised shops such as the Louis Vuitton store in Passeig de Gràcia. The march set off from Jardinets de Gràcia just after 12:30pm local time. Workers rights amid soaring overtourism were at the centre of the rally. Anti-tourist protesters take over sightseeing coach in Majorca with smoke bombs ahead of mass march tomorrow Unions representing migrant workers, street vendors and cleaners took part in the huge protests. Spokesperson Pardo also said that the tourism industry "subjects the people who work in it to the worst working and salary conditions". He cited the housing crisis as another devastating impact of mass tourism. The controversial expansion of Barcelona-El Prat Airport has also been a flashpoint for locals. A spokesperson for one of the campaigns against this expansion, called Zeroport, emphasised that this message was being delivered to politicians and not to tourists. Ariadna Cotèn said: "Tourists are not really to blame for this situation happening in Barcelona." But her message didn't stop the hundreds of raging tourists who shouted in English for tourists to "go home". 11 Demonstrators gather during the protest against mass tourism Credit: Reuters 11 People attach stickers against tourists during the demonstration Credit: Alamy 11 Riot police keep watch on in the demonstrations Credit: Getty They held placards with messages such as "one more tourist, one less neighbour", and "tourism is killing Barcelona". Anti-tourism protests also unfolded on Sunday in holiday hotspot Ibiza, Donostia-San Sebastián, Palma, Granada, and the Pyrenees. But they have also spread across Europe - with some taking place in Lisbon, Portugal and across Italy this weekend. It comes just one day after Spanish protesters held up a sightseeing bus in Palma de Majorca ahead of the major anti-tourism demonstrations. The raging locals said the popular Spanish island is overwhelmed by tourists and driven by profit over local needs. These demonstrations came after Spain's first major overtourism protests of the year kicked off in April after thousands of people across 40 cities took to the streets. Majorca, one of the centres of the protests last year, hosted the first mass protests of the year. Nearly 40 organisations from the Balearic Islands are believed to have marched in Palma. What is overtourism? Overtourism refers to the phenomenon where a destination experiences a volume of tourists that exceeds its manageable capacity The term is often used to describe the negative consequences of mass tourism, which includes overcrowding and environmental issues As a result, popular destinations have become less enjoyable for both visitors and locals Local communities, in particular, bear the brunt, facing rising costs and a depletion of resources In response, national and local governments have started to implement measures to reduce overtourism Some solutions include: Safeguarding historical and heritage sites Promoting off-peak travel Tourism caps and regulations Promoting lesser-known destinations Later, in May, thousands flooded the streets of the Canary Islands in Spain's third wave of protests of the year. Demonstrations took place across the Spanish archipelago's islands, including Tenerife, Lanzarote, Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura. The march carried the slogan: "The Canary Islands are not for sale, they are loved and defended." Other banners read: "The Canary Islands have a limit and so does our patience" and "Enough is enough!" Spain's anti-mass tourism movement began gaining serious momentum in April 2024 - particularly in popular tourist destinations. Locals have been demanding an end to the problems associated with mass tourism, including pollution, traffic chaos, the lack of affordable housing and low wages for tourism workers. 11 Red smoke bombs were used in the capital Credit: AFP 11 Protesters fill water guns on a fountain Credit: Getty
Local Spain
3 days ago
- Local Spain
'Bring your water pistols': Barcelona braces for tourism demo
Spain's anti-protest season is ready to restart this weekend, with demonstrators in Barcelona preparing to take to the streets with water pistols (again) in the Catalan capital. In 2024, protestors in Spain's second city gained international news coverage when a small group of them sprayed tourists with water pistols. The demonstration was part of a wider, year-long wave of anti-tourism protests across Spain to demand greater controls on the tourism industry and, in particular, protest its inflationary impact on the housing market. Average rents in Spain's major cities, islands and coastal resorts have skyrocketed in the post-pandemic period, with a surge in the number of short-term tourist accommodation rental platforms like Airbnb blamed by many. Now, on Saturday June 15th, the Assembly of Neighbourhoods for Tourism Degrowth (ABDT) has called for a new demonstration in Barcelona under the slogan: 'Tourism is stealing our bread, our homes and our future: we defend the city, tourism degrowth NOW!'. More than 100 organisations from across the country have already signed the manifesto. The march will start at 12 noon on Sunday in the Jardinets de Gràcia, and then move on to city centre spots such as Passeig de Gràcia and Diagonal. Authorities are recommending that people in the city use public transport while the march is on. Similar protests will take place in other Spanish cities such as Palma, San Sebastián, Granada and Ibiza, and there will also be demos overseas in cities such as Lisbon, Naples, Venice and Naples, organised by The Southern Europe Network Against Touristification (SET). Reports in the Spanish press suggest that the aim is to disrupt 'tourist routines' and demand policies to curb what they describe as an 'economic monoculture that is driving out residents.' The organising groups also includes trade unions representing workers in the tourism sector and environmental groups such as Ecologistas en Acción. Organisers are inviting demonstrators to bring water pistols and toys, a direct reference to an anti-mass tourism demonstration carried out last year on the city's Ramblas boulevard, where some protesters sprayed holidaymakers with water as they sat on restaurant terraces. Protesters in Barcelona recently held up a bus covered it with a large banner reading 'Let's put out the tourist fire. June 15th – Day of struggle against touristification', looking ahead to the protest this weekend. During the series of protests in 2024, some in Spain and around the world wondered if demonstrations were becoming overly aggressive and demonising tourists themselves as opposed to the tourist industry and gentrification more generally.
