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New York Times
3 days ago
- New York Times
Traveling to Europe? Here's What to Expect From Tourism Protests on June 15.
Protests against overtourism have become a reliable sign of summer's arrival in southern Europe. Already this year, major demonstrations have taken place in the Canary Islands and on Majorca, in Spain. But on Sunday, the protests appear to be entering a new phase, when coordinated demonstrations will take place in tourist hot spots in Spain, Portugal, Italy and, possibly, France. Last year, protesters at a July 6 march in Barcelona squirted tourists with water pistols, making international headlines. Building on that momentum, the upcoming demonstrations are intended to draw attention to the negative impact of what organizers call the touristification (the emphasis on tourism instead of local quality of life) of European cities. The protests aim to keep pressure on governments to address the problems generated by tourism, including rising rents and housing shortages, environmental damage and neighborhoods stripped of essential services for residents. Planning for the coordinated protests began in earnest in April, during a weekend-long Barcelona workshop for activists that drew representatives from across Spain, as well as from France, Portugal and Italy, to strategize about how best to achieve their shared goal. 'What we are calling for,' said Daniel Pardo, the spokesman for the Southern European Network Against Touristification, which organized the workshop, 'is tourism degrowth.' What places are involved? In Spain, marches are planned in Barcelona, San Sebastían, Granada, Majorca, Minorca and Ibiza. There are also protests scheduled in Lisbon and Genoa, Italy. Activists in other destinations, including Marseille, may also hold demonstrations. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Daily Mirror
28-04-2025
- Daily Mirror
Police intervene as protesters target tourists with new tactic in Spanish hotspot
Tourist aboard a sight-seeing bus in Barcelona were blocked and squirted with water by protesters. The organizers of many of the anti-tourism protests held in 2024 in Mallorca launched a protest in the Northern Spanish city on Sunday. The Catalan Police were called when the campaigners blocked a bus packed with tourists close to the famous Sagrada Familia. Members of Més turisme, Menys vida (More Tourism, Less Life) launched the action after holding an international press conference. After stopping the bus in its tracks for several minutes, the protesters doused it with water pistols. According to OK Diario, police dispersed some of the activists and detained others. This tourism-phobic group from Mallorca carried out several pressure actions against tourists last year, both in Palma and on iconic beaches like Caló des Moro, as well as two demonstrations with thousands of people protesting against tourism in the streets of the Balearic capital. Fed up locals in holiday hotspots across Spain, Italy, France and Portugal have refused to rule out targeting terminal buildings to deter holidaymakers this summer. They say mass tourism has fuelled soaring rents and a lack of affordable homes - as accommodation is snapped up for tourist lets and land bought for building resorts. The alert comes as millions of us are planning sunshine getaways. At the Més turisme, Menys vida summit, protestor Elena Boschi yesterday told the Mirror: 'We want tourists to have some level of fear about the situation – without fear there is no change.' The English language teacher, 46, a campaigner from Genoa, on the Italian riviera, continued: 'Our cities and regions are not for sale and there is an urgent need to limit the growth of tourism, demand a change of course and decide on a path to tourism de-growth as a way out.' When questioned by our reporter about demonstrations at airports, which have been mooted by activists, leader Daniel Pardo added: 'It is a possibility – but, it is difficult to say because each territory will decide how they want to take action, there is no one set strategy.' Issues relating to tourism have been felt particularly keenly by those living on the Canary Islands. In 2024, the Canary Islands saw a record 17.9 million visitors, a combination of international and domestic tourists. This included 15.5 million international tourists, a 10% increase from the previous year, and around 1.8 million domestic tourists from mainland Spain. This year activists - who argue that house prices are too high, roads too busy and the way of life being eroded by mass-tourism - have pledged to target popular tourist hotspots, disrupt public events and "confront political leaders". A fresh campaign is set to commence from May 18. "From now on, we will take our fight to the very spaces where their predatory model is perpetuated," declared activist group Canarias tiene un límite (The Canaries Have a Limit)."
Edinburgh Live
28-04-2025
- Edinburgh Live
Airports facing chaos this summer as European anti-tourism protesters issue warning
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info British holidaymakers looking forward to European summer breaks could be in for a headache, as anti-tourism protests threaten to bring chaos to airports. Disgruntled locals in Spain, Italy, France, and Portugal are hinting at potential protests within airport terminals to dissuade tourists, blaming mass tourism for skyrocketing rents and the loss of affordable housing as properties are turned into tourist rentals and land is purchased for resort development. The Mirror received a stark warning from Elena Boschi, a vocal protester at a Barcelona summit, who said: "We want tourists to have some level of fear about the situation – without fear there is no change." READ MORE - Death of West Lothian woman who fell from Benidorm balcony to be probed in new series READ MORE - ITV Grace fans 'all spot the same issue' minutes into series finale The 46 year old English language teacher and activist from Genoa elaborated on the necessity of curbing tourism growth and considered tourism de-growth as an escape route. Our journalist probed further about the possibility of demonstrations affecting airports, as hinted by protestors' discussions. Movement leader Daniel Pardo told our reporter: "It is a possibility – but, it is difficult to say because each territory will decide how they want to take action, there is no one set strategy." The SET European Network Against Touristification, a collective of protest groups from 17 southern European cities, islands, and communities, has convened for a three-day summit to demand an end to "predatory tourism". They argue that such tourism has resulted in residents being "unable to pay the high rents or buy a home" and has caused "beaches and natural areas [to be] visibly damaged.", reports the Mirror. In Spain, average rents have doubled and house prices have surged by over 44% in the last ten years, with residential rental availability plummeting since the pandemic in 2020. Concurrently, short-term rentals have proliferated in major urban and coastal areas, pushing out local Spanish families. The summit follows massive protests across Spain last summer, where hundreds of thousands marched in 40 cities. In Palma, Mallorca, over 50,000 demonstrators took to the streets between May and July, brandishing signs proclaiming: "Mallorca is not for sale" and "no houses without people, nor people without houses." Earlier this month, further protests erupted. Madrid saw over 150,000 marchers, as reported by the local tenants' union. Maria Cardona, a SET Network member from Ibiza, hinted that protestors are prepared to escalate their actions "one step further" this coming summer. "The housing situation is really dramatic, there are hundreds of people living in tents and in cars so I think a lot of protest groups will be prepared to take more decisive action," she disclosed. "On Ibiza, we also have a shortage of water and this is a problem in the winter, so you can imagine in the summer when there is triple the number of people on the island." Despite the likelihood of protests, it's important to note that many campaigners have stressed they aren't against holidaymakers. "We are not against tourists, but what we don't welcome is a way of being in our cities and regions that turns it into a place that is no longer nice to live in for us." voiced one member who preferred to stay anonymous. "People need to think what it would feel like if this were happening in their hometown – we're not interested in scaring anyone. It's just about being mindful of the impact tourism can have on local communities." Spain's reliance on tourism cannot be overstated with an astonishing 94 million visitors last year, including at least 17.5 million Brits, marking Spain as the world's second most visited nation, just behind France. Moves to regulate tourism effects have commenced locally as well; notably in Barcelona where authorities have promised to gradually eliminate the city's 10,000 permits for short-term rentals, a lot of which feature on rental platforms like Airbnb, planning to accomplish this by 2028. In 2018, the SET European Network Against Touristification emerged to combat the negative impacts of mass tourism. At their Barcelona summit, they handed out leaflets claiming: "Early action aimed at imposing limits on tourism is an expression of a growing collective awareness that transcends borders. "Each demonstration marks a moment, and perhaps, a turning point - we must push for the changes and policies that our cities and regions, the people who live in them and the whole planet need." Last year's statistics highlighted Europe as the most-visited region globally, with 747 million international arrivals. The SET network has announced protest plans starting June 15, involving destinations like the Canary Islands, Ibiza, Mallorca, Barcelona, and San Sebastian. Activists from places including Santander, Genoa, Pamplona, Lisbon, Marseille, Milan, Naples, Palermo, the Pyrenees, Rimini, Valence, and Venice are also part of the movement.
Dublin Live
26-04-2025
- Dublin Live
Warning to Irish families visiting four countries including Spain and Portugal this summer
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Irish holidaymakers heading to Europe might be in for a rough start this summer as anti-tourism sentiments grow, with protesters not discarding the possibility of targeting airports to voice their frustrations. Residents fed up with the impacts of mass tourism in Spain, Italy, France, and Portugal haven't ruled out protest actions at airport terminals to dissuade tourists. They argue that influx of tourists has driven up rents and created a shortage of affordable housing, given that properties are turned into tourist rentals and land is bought for resort development. The warning comes as many are preparing for sunny escapes abroad. During a meeting in Barcelona, protester Elena Boschi told the Mirror: "We want tourists to have some level of fear about the situation – without fear there is no change." The 46-year-old English language teacher and activist from Genoa added: "Our cities and regions are not for sale and there is an urgent need to limit the growth of tourism, demand a change of course and decide on a path to tourism de-growth as a way out.". On the topic of potential demonstrations at airports - a tactic hinted at by some activists - the group's leader Daniel Pardo said: "It is a possibility – but, it is difficult to say because each territory will decide how they want to take action, there is no one set strategy." An organisation known as SET European Network Against Touristification, which is a collective of protest groups from 17 cities, islands and communities throughout southern Europe, have banded together in defiance against what they deem "predatory tourism". They argue this model of tourism has squeezed residents out due to skyrocketing rents and house prices, while also causing environmental damage to beaches and natural areas. Representatives from each region joined forces for a three-day summit aimed at putting an end to the tourism practices that have made it increasingly difficult for locals "unable to pay the high rents or buy a home", with "beaches and natural areas visibly damaged." Over the last ten years, average Spanish rents have hit the roof, doubling in cost, with property prices jumping a staggering 44%, not to mention the residential rental supply plummeting by half since the pandemic in 2020. Simultaneously, short-term holiday lets have mushroomed in prime urban and beachside spots, leaving your average Spanish families high and dry. The gathering comes on the heels of mass protests that swept Spain last summer, with hundreds of thousands demonstrating across 40 cities. In Palma, Mallorca's capital, over 50,000 concerned citizens took to the streets from May to July, brandishing placards bearing emphatic messages such as: "Mallorca is not for sale" and "no houses without people, nor people without houses." More recently, earlier this month, the protest wave rose again. Madrid witnessed more than 150,000 protesters marching, backed by the local tenants' union. SET Network's own Ibiza member Maria Cardona has warned of taking the movement "one step further" this coming summer. "The housing situation is really dramatic, there are hundreds of people living in tents and in cars so I think a lot of protest groups will be prepared to take more decisive action," she said. "On Ibiza, we also have a shortage of water and this is a problem in the winter, so you can imagine in the summer when there is triple the number of people on the island." Despite the upcoming protests, many activists were quick to clarify their stance towards visitors. One anonymous member said: "We are not against tourists, but what we don't welcome is a way of being in our cities and regions that turns it into a place that is no longer nice to live in for us. "People need to think what it would feel like if this were happening in their hometown – we're not interested in scaring anyone. It's just about being mindful of the impact tourism can have on local communities." Tourism is a cornerstone of Spain's economy, with a whopping 94 million tourists last year alone, including at least 17.5 million from Britain, making Spain the world's second most visited country after France. In response to the pressures of tourism, local authorities have started to take action against short-term rentals. Barcelona's city officials, for instance, have committed to phasing out all 10,000 licenses for short-term lets by 2028, targeting listings on popular platforms like Airbnb. The SET European Network Against Touristification, established in 2018, has been vocal about the negative impacts of mass tourism. At their Barcelona summit, they distributed a leaflet stating: "Early action aimed at imposing limits on tourism is an expression of a growing collective awareness that transcends borders. Each demonstration marks a moment, and perhaps, a turning point - we must push for the changes and policies that our cities and regions, the people who live in them and the whole planet need." Last year saw a staggering 747 million tourists flock to Europe, making it the most visited region globally. The SET network has announced protests starting June 15, with representation from popular Spanish hotspots like the Canary Islands, Ibiza, Mallorca, Barcelona, and San Sebastian, as well as activists from Santander, Genoa, Pamplona, Lisbon, Marseille, Milan, Naples, Palermo, the Pyrenees, Rimini, Valence, and Venice. Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice . For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage.
Irish Daily Mirror
26-04-2025
- Irish Daily Mirror
Holiday warning for Irish visiting four countries this summer
Irish holidaymakers jetting off this summer could face airport misery thanks to anti-tourism protests, with protesters refusing to rule out aiming their frustrations at airports. Fed up locals in holiday hotspots across Spain, Italy, France and Portugal have refused to rule out targeting terminal buildings to deter holidaymakers. They say mass tourism has fuelled soaring rents and a lack of affordable homes, as accommodation is snapped up for tourist lets and land bought for building resorts. The alert comes as thousands of Irish tourists are planning sunshine getaways. At a summit in Barcelona, protestor Elena Boschi yesterday told Mirror UK: 'We want tourists to have some level of fear about the situation - without fear there is no change.' The English language teacher, 46, a campaigner from Genoa on the Italian riviera, continued: "Our cities and regions are not for sale and there is an urgent need to limit the growth of tourism, demand a change of course and decide on a path to tourism de-growth as a way out." When questioned by the reporter about demonstrations at airports, which have been mooted by activists, leader Daniel Pardo added: "It is a possibility - but, it is difficult to say because each territory will decide how they want to take action, there is no one set strategy." The organisation, called SET European Network Against Touristification, consists of protest groups representing 17 cities, islands and communities across southern Europe. Representatives from each area have gathered for a three-day summit to call for an end to "predatory tourism" which they say has left people "unable to pay the high rents or buy a home" and "beaches and natural areas visibly damaged." Average Spanish rents have doubled and house prices have soared by over 44% in the past decade, while the supply of residential rentals has halved since the 2020 pandemic. At the same time, short-term rentals have increased rapidly in major cities and coastal destinations squeezing out hardworking Spanish families. The meeting comes after hundreds of thousands of Spaniards marched in 40 cities across the country last summer. From May to July, more than 50,000 hit the streets of the Mallorcan capital Palma. They clutched placards with slogans like: "Mallorca is not for sale" and "no houses without people, nor people without houses." Earlier this month, further demonstrations kicked off. In the capital Madrid, more than 150,000 protesters marched through the streets, according to the local tenants' union. But SET Network member Maria Cardona, representing Ibiza, said protestors will take things "one step further" this summer. She said: "The housing situation is really dramatic, there are hundreds of people living in tents and in cars so I think a lot of protest groups will be prepared to take more decisive action. On Ibiza, we also have a shortage of water and this is a problem in the winter, so you can imagine in the summer when there is triple the number of people on the island." Despite the planned demos, many members were keen to emphasise they are not anti-tourists. One, who didn't want to be named, said: 'We are not against tourists, but what we don't welcome is a way of being in our cities and regions that turns it into a place that is no longer nice to live in for us. People need to think what it would feel like if this were happening in their hometown - we're not interested in scaring anyone. It's just about being mindful of the impact tourism can have on local communities.' Tourism is hugely important to Spain, with 94 million visitors last year, of which over 2.5 million were Irish. Local governments have already launched their own crackdowns on short-term rentals. In Barcelona, officials have pledged to phase out its 10,000 permits for short-term lets, many of which are advertised on platforms such as Airbnb, by 2028. The SET European Network Against Touristification was formed in 2018. The network's first action saw members release a manifesto about how mass tourism causes rents to soar, local shops to disappear and low wage jobs. A leaflet distributed at the Barcelona summit reads: "Early action aimed at imposing limits on tourism is an expression of a growing collective awareness that transcends borders. Each demonstration marks a moment, and perhaps, a turning point - we must push for the changes and policies that our cities and regions, the people who live in them and the whole planet need." Some 747 million tourists visited Europe last year, making it the region with the highest number of international arrivals worldwide. Protests organised by the SET network will begin on June 15. Among the areas represented are top Spanish destinations including the Canary Islands, Ibiza, Mallorca, Barcelona and San Sebastian. Also present are campaigners from Santander, Genoa, Pamplona, Lisbon, Marseille, Milan, Naples, Palermo, the Pyrenees, Rimini, Valence and Venice.
