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Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Daily Mail
Fed-up Notting Hill residents have painted their colourful terraced homes black to get rid of selfie-taking influencers
Fed up Notting Hill residents have painted their famous colourful houses black in a bid to stop 'rude' selfie-taking tourists and influencers from posing outside. Homeowners on Lancaster Road - located just metres away from Portobello Road Market in west London - say they are constantly swamped with people taking photos in front of their properties. They claim influencers stand right outside their doors to get the perfect shot with some even undergoing multiple outfit changes. Meanwhile, it's claimed that brazen tourists will enjoy lunchtime picnics on their doorsteps and often peer through their windows 'forgetting that people actually live there'. As a result, two houses on the road have ditched their previous bright exterior - in the hopes that black walls are 'less Instagrammable' - and will therefore stop people coming there. Previously, a purple and pink home sat either side of an already-black house but now they have joined forces with their neighbour. A 'quiet zone' sign has also been put up - and one property further down the street has even strung a rope across their front steps. One resident, who did not want to be named, said: 'Our house was actually originally black and the others weren't. 'But the other two decided to join us a couple months ago as we all agree that black houses don't look good on social media. 'I understand why people take photos - because of how it looks - but it just gets so packed. 'We can have hundreds of people on the street at once and it's a residential road - we're not able to cater to tourists. 'I think people just forget that people live here. So the hope with painting the houses black is that tourists will relax a bit. It's been working a little bit so far, to be fair.' The resident said he didn't expect the remaining houses on the street to also ditch their colourful paint but said it might be necessary if the problem continues. He said: 'We obviously want our neighbours to do whatever they want, but if this doesn't work, and we all have to go one colour to get it to stop, then hopefully as a street we can join together and do that.' Another resident, who also wished to anonymous, said: 'My family moved in about a month ago and the previous owner painted it black just before because they were fed-up with how many people stop out front. 'It gets crazy. People get on the steps and take loads of photos. On the weekends, there can be hundreds of people. Tourists taking photographs on Lancaster road where Notting Hill residents paint famous colourful houses black in bid to put off influencers and stop 'disruptive overtourism' 'It's not Londoners, it's mainly tourists. But it just gets stressful. I know my parents hate it. 'The hope with the black houses is that it's less picturesque. They basically want to attract less attention.' A resident in the third black house did not want to talk today explaining that the point of the colour change had been to 'get rid of the attention' and 'not draw more people here'. Two tourists who were on Lancaster Road today were Clancy Carroll and Georgia Densley, who were visiting London from Australia. They said the decision to paint the houses black was 'a downer'. They said: 'I mean people are drawn here because of the street being iconic and colourful, right? 'It's a tourist spot and surely tourism is good for the local economy. It's a bit of a downer to paint the houses black. We're not fans of that. 'But to be honest, it probably won't work. If the rest are still colourful, people will come here - and if they all paint their homes black, it will become: 'Let's go see the street of all black houses'. 'It hasn't stopped us.' Residents are now campaigning to try and get other colourful properties on the street to follow suit. A letter circulated among homeowners urges them to 'consider' repainting to discourage tourists and influencers. Titled 'Addressing tourist impact on our street', it reads: 'As many of you have noticed, our section of the street has become an increasingly popular spot for social media tourists, drawn by the vibrant colours of our homes. 'While it's great to see appreciation for our street, the constant crowds, noise, litter and lack of privacy caused by people sitting on our stairs are starting to take a toll on our daily lives.' The letter goes on to claim that 'disruptive tourism' has meant residents have faced 'rental challenges' - and 'estate agents have confirmed it is negatively affecting the price of our properties'. It continues: 'As a possible solution, three households, nos [redacted] have decided to repaint their homes this spring in more neutral tones to help reduce the visual pull for tourists. 'If more of us consider collectively doing the same, we may be able to restore some peace and privacy to our community.' Meanwhile, other homeowners explained that they had previously painted their houses more neutral colours, also in the hope of becoming less appealing to tourists and influencers. George Hencken, who has lived in Notting Hill for 29 years, said: 'Our home used to be pink but we painted it grey around seven years ago. 'The point was to be an unphotogenic colour. 'But the thing is, and something those who have painted their homes black will soon find out, is that even if people aren't using their house as a photo backdrop - they'll still be here. 'They'll be having their picnic lunch in their doorway, sheltering outside when it's raining, and even changing outfit on their front steps. 'And Instagram and TikTok are having this effect all over the world. I know that there's a cafe in Japan, with a backdrop of Mount Fuji, which has had to close because of it. 'And over the years I've only had one tourist say to me, 'You must get so sick of it'. 'With lots of the others - there's just this sense of arrogance and entitlement.' Ms Hencken explained that what frustrated her most was that none of the tourists or influencers seemed to have any idea of Notting Hill's history. She said: 'This area used to be a proud rebel corner in west London. Yes, there are expensive houses, but this street also has a lot of social housing. 'They don't know the history. 'Ever since Richard Curtis made that stupid film every American banker or rich guy from Switzerland who spends a few months here, when asked where they want to live, says: "Oh, my wife likes that film". 'It's changing the area. Our doorsteps used to be social places. We'd sit out here and chat to friends and neighbours. 'But now you can't do that. If you do, any random person thinks they can come and sit here too.' Another local, whose home is beige, also thought the colour would ward people off but found the most effective thing is placing a rope in front of his steps. He said: 'Our home is beige so it's not as bad as some of the more colourful ones - but the most effective thing is these straps we have now. 'I know the green house has seen a huge drop since putting theirs there. 'Because it does get ridiculous. Before, we had people posing on our steps - which obviously set my dog off. 'They'd even have picnics there. It's just rude. 'With Instagrammers, it's always the same kind of people. You can spot them.. Lots of Italians - which I can because I'm Italian. 'As for the tourists, I mean, it's the people are coming here for pretty photos instead of going somewhere of note. They're not going to the British Museum.'
The Independent
21-05-2025
- The Independent
Spain's Balearic Islands to cut ties with influencers in bid to stop ‘selfie tourism'
Spain has said it will stop using social media influencers to promote popular Balearic Islands destinations in a bid to control overwhelming ' selfie tourism'. The Balearic government backtracked on the use of influencer marketing campaigns after a cove in Mallorca was swarmed by 4,000 visitors a day last summer. Caló des Moro only has the space to welcome around 100 beachgoers each day. Influencer content showcasing the small cove prompted tourists to travel for pictures of the golden sands and clear waters. The local mayor of Mallorca's Santanyí, Maria Pons, said at a press conference last June that 4,000 people and 1,200 vehicles were descending on Caló des Moro daily. In June 2024, hundreds of activists descended on the once secluded cove to demand sunbathers leave the beach with a giant banner that declared, ' Ocupem les nostres platges ' – 'We will occupy our beaches'. Previously, the Balearics had hoped that the use of influencer content would redirect tourist flow to more remote parts of the popular holiday islands and highlight hidden gems. However, following a push on social media platforms such as Instagram and TikTok, the tourism marketing strategy has seen remote and protected parts of Mallorca, Menorca and Ibiza overrun with holidaymakers looking to snap a selfie. Last weekend, a spokesman for the Balearic tourism department said selfie tourism had 'had the completely opposite effect to what was intended and runs contrary to government policy on containing tourism', reported the Guardian. The local authority has since removed all images of the cove from its website and pleaded with journalists and tour operators to stop promoting the location altogether. Similarly, in March, residents in Ibiza vowed to continue anti-tourism protests this summer, barricading a famous viewpoint with boulders and 'no entry' warnings. Angry locals in Cala d'Hort de Sant Josep blocked tourist access to the Es Vedra lookout and its car parks in a bid to curb overtourism and 'wild parties' in the area. Ibiza 's southwest coast each day in summer, using unofficial car parks on private land to watch the sunset.
Daily Mail
20-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Spain ditches influencers after disastrous bid to get social media 'celebrities' to promote destinations saw quiet spots swarmed by thousands, prompting protests by locals
Spain 's Balearic Islands have stopped using influencers to promote holiday hotspots and warned that 'selfie tourism' is ruining the region's most beautiful beaches. The move comes a year after jeering Mallorcan protestors descended on an Instagram-famous beach and blocked visitors from entering in a bid to combat mass tourism. Local authorities had originally hoped social media stars would help relieve the strain on some locations frequented by tourists by encouraging visitors to explore less popular sites. But the strategy has seemingly backfired, as some of these remote locations have now become flooded with selfie-snapping visitors, causing even more overcrowding and sparking further fury from locals contesting 'over tourism.' 'It has had the complete opposite effect to what was intended and runs contrary to government policy on containing tourism,' a spokesman for the Balearic tourism department admitted over the weekend. One distinctive example is Calo des Moro, a small cove on the island of Mallorca which holds around 100 visitors. But after an online celebrity shared the spot with their followers, it became inundated with tourists. Mayor Maria Pons last year revealed that up to 4,000 people and 1,200 vehicles were descending on the cove every day. Local authorities had originally hoped social media stars would help relieve the strain on some locations frequented by tourists by encouraging visitors to explore less popular sites In response, local authorities removed all pictures promoting Calo des Moro from its official website. Elsewhere in Ibiza, the local government has closed off access to popular viewpoint at Es Vedra after residents complained about overcrowding. The influencer ban comes a year after hundreds of campaigners stormed Calo des Moro in Mallorca made famous around the world by Instagrammers - as locals vowed to 'reclaim' the stunning spot from holidaymakers. More than 300 protesters descended on the cove last June as they unfurled a huge banner stretching across the beach which read: 'Let's occupy out beaches.' Others stayed in a nearby car park and distributed leaflets in English and German informing tourists about the mobilisation - forcing tourists to turn back and leave the cove. Footage from the demonstration shows a woman sitting across a path leading down to the popular Caló des Moro while a local shouted at would-be tourists to 'go, go, go!' Another man sporting long hair and tattoos is seen explaining to disgruntled holidaymakers that 'tourists have taken over the beach... for one day, we're going to enjoy it', before gesturing at them to leave. Ukrainian Kristina Vashchenko, 20, was forced to retreat along the craggy rocks leading down to the stunning bay after locals alerted each other to her presence by whistling. Kristina, originally from Mariupol but now living in Germany, said: 'I saw pictures on TikTok and wanted to come but we just realised that there are protests by people who live here. 'So now we're looking for another beach to go to.'It is a shame but I appreciate that we are guests on their island and they live here. 'It will not be difficult to find another beautiful beach to go to.' The impact of mass tourism on Caló des Moro sees six tonnes of sand disappear from the cove every three months - with 70kg disappearing in towels and footwear every day. Locals say the cove, accessible by traversing down rocks and passing 120 steep steps, is used as a dumping ground by tourists who are too lazy to make the return journey with their possessions. Spain was rocked by anti-tourism protests last summer, which saw tens of thousands of fed up locals filling streets across the country. Anti-tourism campaigners have long been contesting the current tourism model, claiming that many locals have been priced out by holidaymakers, expats and foreign buyers. Last year, Spain saw a record-breaking number of tourists, with over 15 million visitors flocking to the island of Mallorca alone. In response, protestors took to the streets across Spain, leaving countless visitors fuming after paying hundreds of pounds to enjoy their holidays abroad. Actions included marches on the street with protesters chanting 'tourists go home', as well as demonstrations on beaches which saw locals boo and jeer at sun-soaked tourists. In one particular instance, up to 50,000 locals descended onto the streets of the Mallorca capital Palma. Meanwhile in Barcelona, some 2,800 people marched along a waterfront district of Barcelona to demand a new economic model that would reduce the millions of tourists that visit every year. Protesters carried signs reading 'Barcelona is not for sale,' and, 'Tourists go home,' before some used water guns on tourists eating outdoors at restaurants in popular tourist hotspots. Chants of 'Tourists out of our neighbourhood' rang out as some stopped in front of the entrances to hotels. Last month, anti-tourism campaigners issued a chilling warning to British holidaymakers after they threatened to unleash more chaos. With summer holidays looming, the Mallorcan anti-tourism campaign group Banc del Temps Sencells posted a video hinting that there will be more action taken this year. Over the weekend, thousands of fed-up locals kicked off demonstrations across the Canary Islands. Holidaymakers were forced to cower in hotels on Sunday as anti-tourist protests stormed the streets of the Canary Islands, disrupting bliss for the thousands of Brits abroad. Demonstrators marched with the slogan 'Canarias tiene un limite' (The Canaries has a limit, while slogan were chanted such as: 'El dinero del turismo, donde está?', meaning 'The money from tourism, where is it?' One placard read: 'Stop excessive tourism… this is our home,' while another said: 'My misery is your paradise'. A banner declared the Canary Islands 'is no longer a paradise' thanks to tourism. Another sign was inscribed with the words: 'tourists swim in s**t', referencing the large amount of sewage water that is dumped into the sea - the majority of it, activists say, coming from hotels and tourist accommodations. Other placards in Spanish said: 'Don't sell your homes to guiris!' Guiri is a Spanish slang word for British and other tourists. Demonstrators could also be heard shouting 'Canarias No Se Vende', meaning 'The Canary Islands Are Not For Sale,' while the blew whistles and proudly held Canary Island flags in the sky.
The Guardian
19-05-2025
- The Guardian
Balearics hit back at ‘selfie tourism' as sites become overwhelmed
The authorities in Spain's Balearic Islands have said they will stop using social media influencers to promote popular destinations, saying 'selfie tourism' is damaging some of its most beautiful locations. In an attempt to quell the effects of overtourism, the Balearics had hoped that influencers, many of whom have hundreds of thousands of followers, might relieve the strain on some better-known sites by directing visitors elsewhere. The strategy has backfired, however, as often remote and environmentally sensitive parts of the islands have become overwhelmed with visitors who take selfies, post them on social media and leave. 'It's had the completely opposite effect to what was intended and runs contrary to government policy on containing tourism,' said a spokesman for the Balearic tourism department at the weekend. The Caló des Moro, a tiny cove in Mallorca with capacity for about 100 people, is a case in point. After an influencer directed their many followers to enjoy its pristine waters and golden sands, the location was swamped daily by thousands of visitors. Last June, María Pons, the local mayor, held a press conference saying that 4,000 people and 1,200 vehicles were going there every day. She pleaded with journalists and tour operators never to mention the cove again. Now the local authority has removed all images of the bay from its website. At Es Vedrà on Ibiza, the local authority has closed access to the popular lookout point after residents complained about overcrowding and accumulated waste. The backlash against influencers extends from Bali, where the authorities have complained about tourists posing naked at sacred sites and imposed large fines on people filming in specific areas, to Vermont in the north-east United States where the small town of Pomfret, famed for its autumn foliage, has been forced to restrict tourists during autumn. With Spain expecting record numbers of tourists this summer after close to 100 million visited last year, protests against the impact of mass tourism, in particular its effect on the cost of housing, have already kicked off, with a water pistol attack on tourists in Barcelona last month. At the weekend, tens of thousands of protesters marched in the Canary Islands under the slogans 'Massive tourism is making us homeless' and 'TRhe Canaries are not for sale.' Last year the archipelago (population 2.2 million) received a record 17 million visitors. Across Spain, the lack of affordable housing is the dominant social issue, with tourist apartments seen as the chief culprit. Last year the issue brought tens of thousands on to the streets of Tenerife, Palma de Mallorca, Sevilla, Madrid, Barcelona and elsewhere and similar protests are expected this year. Meanwhile, Spain's consumer affairs ministry, with the backing of the supreme court, has ordered the tourist apartment platform Airbnb to remove the listings of 65,000 illegal lettings across Spain. Last March, the ministry produced a list of 15,200 illegal tourist apartments in Madrid alone. Airbnb has been threatened with fines of €100,000 (£84,000) or up to six times the value of the profits made from the illegal flats if it fails to comply. The company has appealed against previous government requests to remove the adverts, but a Madrid court urged the California-based firm to 'immediately' withdraw 5,800 ads, the ministry said in a statement. A company spokesperson said Airbnb would continue to appeal and criticised the 'indiscriminate methodology' of the ministry, which it said was not competent to enforce tourist accommodation rules. The ministry 'has deliberately ignored' Spanish supreme court rulings that meant not all adverts on Airbnb required a registration number, added the spokesperson.
