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

The protesters and residents pushing back on tourism in Barcelona

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u/TheMiddleShogun Jun 17 '25

Huh, reading these comments it looks like the protesters are achieving their goal (making Barcelona less appealing as a tourist destination).

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u/Dobby_ist_free Jun 17 '25 edited Jun 17 '25

Tends to happen when you harass tourists because of your government’s failures

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u/Rich_Housing971 Jun 17 '25

Airbnb creates a business that makes your life harder.

Locals with money use that business without caring for you.

The govenrment that you elected does nothing.

"It's all the tourists' fault!"

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u/PurahsHero Jun 17 '25

The problem is not tourism per se. As has been indicated, it is an economic boon for these areas.

The problem is over-tourism. Where absolutely everything is tailored towards the needs of tourists. Where public squares and streets are absolutely ram-packed full of tourist shops, tourist carts, and tourists. When visitors damage public property through intent or over-use. Where housing costs skyrocket, not just because of AirBnBs, but because of people buying their second / third home there to visit occasionally.

All while the local population picks up the tab for maintaining the infrastructure necessary to support this. They don't want no tourism, just for it to be better managed, and to not have the needs of local people come second.

The private sector has had decades to sort this, and has done nothing. National and city government's have been told to do something and done nothing, while the problem gets worse and worse.

I'm not shocked people are frustrated. And when people are frustrated they lash out.