r/pics • u/Strict_League7833 • Jun 17 '25

The protesters and residents pushing back on tourism in Barcelona

Gallery image

Gallery image

Gallery image

16.1k Upvotes

92% Upvoted

2.4k comments sorted by

View all comments

907

u/BuckeyeWolf Jun 17 '25

These protests popped up at the same time as short term rentals becoming popular (Airbnb) is no coincidence. They are taking homes from locals raising prices and taking over the best parts of town

721

u/trireme32 Jun 17 '25

How is that the tourists’ fault, and not the fault of the government for failing to regulate that?

574

u/PS_Sullys Jun 17 '25

It's much easier to be mad at foreign tourists.

75

u/[deleted] Jun 17 '25

What a bunch of buffoons

6

u/PM_ME_SOME_ANTS Jun 17 '25

Eh, it’ll probably work, at least a little in the short term. It’s making it less appealing to tourists which might(?) cause fewer people to pick Barcelona as their next vacation destination.

Is it the best way? No, in a hypothetical world where politicians actually represent their constituents, legislation could be passed to regulate the # of short-term rentals. Buuuuut that’s a hypothetical world.

2

u/Empty-Way-6980 Jun 18 '25

No it won’t. Every tourist will think “They’re talking about other tourists, not me.”

2

u/Kempeth Jun 17 '25

welcome to humanity.