Latest news with #SouthernEuropeanNetworkAgainstTouristisation
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Yahoo
How the anti-tourism protests in Spain could impact your holiday
Spain is the most popular holiday destination for Britons, with more than 18 million visits last year. But not everyone is happy about this. Anti-tourism protests have become a frequent occurrence across the country in recent years, with more to come this summer. So why is this, and what does it mean for tourists from the UK? Yahoo News UK takes a look. Locals in popular destinations have organised a number of demonstrations against tourism in recent years, with banners featuring messages such as 'tourists go home'. The impact of tourism on housing costs is a common theme at protests, with people blaming short-term rental properties such as those listed on Airbnb. Spain launched a crackdown on the platform this week, ordering it to remove 65,000 listings. People have also claimed tourists are exacerbating traffic congestion and overburdening services such as water supplies. In popular destinations across the country. Thousands of people protested in the Canary Islands, which has one million visitors a month compared to a population of 2.2 million, on Sunday. "The number of tourists and people who come to live here is crushing us," Sirlene Alonso, from Gran Canaria, told Reuters. Other protests have occurred in the likes of Mallorca, Barcelona, Malaga and Seville. Further protests are set to happen in Spain on 15 June. They have been coordinated by the Southern European Network Against Touristisation. The Local has reported Barcelona, Ibiza, the Canary Islands and San Sebastian - as well as other hotspots in Europe - are places where the protests will occur. As well as protest marches, it said there could be picket lines at airports, tourist sites occupied and tourist buses blockaded. While there is strong anti-tourism sentiment in popular destinations, holidaymakers are unlikely to be in danger. The UK Foreign Office does not mention anti-tourism protests in its travel advice for Spain. However, there is a chance tourists could face hostility, especially if they are visiting when protests are happening. For example, tourists dining in Barcelona were sprayed with water guns by protesters in July last year. One sign also read: "Dear tourist: balconing is fun!" Balconing is the dangerous practice of jumping into a swimming pool from a balcony. Campaigners also installed symbolic cordons in front of restaurants, in some cases leading to shouting matches with customers. Earlier this month, a travel boss warned a growing number of UK holidaymakers are concerned about the protests. Steve Heapy, chief executive of airline and tour operator Jet2, said there is a 'perception' among some people that overseas visitors are not welcome in the country. 'We've had people ringing the call centre and going into travel agents asking questions like: 'Is Spain safe? Are we still welcome in the resort?' 'It is becoming a big issue unfortunately, and perception becomes truth.' But Manuel Butler, director of the Spanish Tourist Office in London, insisted it is 'important to distinguish between specific local tensions and the broader national picture'. 'The vast majority of Spain remains enthusiastic in welcoming tourists. 'Where protests have occurred, in cities such as Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca and Santa Cruz, concerns stem from broader societal issues: housing pressures, rising costs of living and environmental strain in high-density areas.' Spain's tourism secretary Rosario Sanchez Grau has said it is a "priority" for the country to remain as the UK's top holiday destination. The destinations at breaking point from overtourism – and where to travel instead (The Independent) Opinion: I've sold my dream Canary Islands home. I had a lucky escape (The Telegraph) 'Leave them where they belong': Bruges implores tourists to stop stealing cobblestones (Euronews)
ITV News
16-05-2025
- ITV News
Anti-tourism protests descend on European holiday hotspots - where will the disruption be?
A wave of anti-tourism protests are being planned across Europe over the coming month as holidaymakers are warned of a summer of disruption. Last year saw marches across hotspots like Barcelona, Venice, and the Balearic Islands as locals fumed over the impact excessive numbers of visitors have on their homes. The campaigner's main complaint focused on the limited availability of housing for local residents, with rents soaring in many communities. This holiday season, various groups across southern Europe are promising more protests, despite several countries and local authorities in impacted regions introducing measures to limit the worst impacts of excessive tourism. Last week, Steve Heapy, chief executive of Jet2, warned British holidaymakers were becoming increasingly concerned about the issue. Speaking at an event at the Spanish embassy in London, Mr Heapy said: "We've had people ringing the call centre and going into travel agents, asking questions like 'is Spain safe', 'are we still welcome in the resort'." He blamed "unlicensed tourism" for exacerbating the issue, blaming holiday rental companies for putting pressure on local communities. When is the next protest? Across the Canary Islands, protesters will take to the streets on Sunday, with organisers expecting over 100,000 people to be involved. The main protest will take place in Santa Cruz, the capital of Tenerife. Other demonstrations are planned in the major towns on Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, and Fuerteventura, El Hierro, La Palma, and La Gomera. There will also be protests in mainland Spain, with demonstrations planned across several major cities, including Barcelona, Madrid, Granada, and Valencia. The protests on the Canary Islands are being organised by Canarias tiene un límite (The Canary Islands Have A Limit). The group's demand is a shift to a more ecological and sustainable form of tourism that can support local residents, constant construction of major hotels and villa complexes, as well as controls on businesses like Airbnb. They also fear that over-tourism is damaging the biodiversity of the Canary Islands, which is home to numerous unique ecosystems and want to see an ecological tax that will fund efforts to maintain the environment. Are there more protests planned this summer? Campaigners have promised a long summer campaign. Southern European Network Against Touristisation - a network of small protest groups that have the same goal of reducing tourism - held a major conference in Barcelona in April and confirmed it planned a unified protest across numerous countries. The network includes groups from Spain, Italy, France, and Portugal. The next major protest will take place on Sunday June 15, with demonstrations in cities across southern Europe. According to the Spanish news website, The Local, protests have been confirmed in Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, Ibiza, the Canary Islands, Naples, Palermo, Venice and Lisbon. Along with large demonstrations planned in city centres, The Local also report placard protests are planned at airports and famous landmarks. How have governments responded to the protesters' demands? Numerous local and national governments have attempted to appease the protest groups with different policies, but so far, they haven't worked. They have also run up against the powerful tourist businesses that run the hotels and resorts, who don't want to see any measure placing new restrictions on their customers. Tourism makes up over 10% of Spain's economy, but in the country's areas most popular with tourists, like the Canary Islands, it makes up for almost a third of all economic activity. Last year, the town of Mogan in Gran Canaria instituted a €0.15 a day tourism tax, but backlash from the tourism industry led to a judge suspending it a day after it was introduced. It has since been reinstated. Tourism taxes have also been implemented in many hotspots like Barcelona and Venice, with one planned to be introduced in Tenerife next year. In Barcelona, the local government has also taken more action by banning the construction of new hotels and plans to outlaw Airbnb after 2028. The Spanish government also recently introduced a law that made it a requirement for property owners to get consent from the local community if they wish to rent out their property to tourists.
