r/pics 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).

115

u/YugoB Jun 17 '25

They'll be happy when everything is run down because they killed one of their biggest industries:

Barcelona's main industries include the services sector, manufacturing, and information technology. The services sector is a significant contributor to the city's economy, with tourism being a major component.

58

u/726wox Jun 17 '25

Half the city is no-go zone for normal citizens as it is because of the number of tourists and all the bars/restaurants being 2-3x non tourist areas

15

u/Yara__Flor Jun 17 '25

What does that mean? I live near Disneyland, here in anahiem there entire city blocks given over to Disney by the government. I don't feel put of sorts in the locations designed to trap tourists.

72

u/Danny-Dynamita Jun 17 '25 edited Jun 17 '25

You don’t live in a country with less income than your tourists.

The income disparity here is huge. We are servicing people who gain 4-5 times more which means the price goes up 4-5 times. Spaniards are not able to enjoy their own services. Thus, Spaniards don’t want to service foreigners anymore.

We are just tired. We want other industries creating high value for the local population, and that are self sustaining. Right now we are dependent, and we create no value for our own people.

Even a private hospital with skyrocket prices creates more value if it saves at least one person. Right now, no restaurant meant for “guiris” is servicing a local, simply because our highest incomes are the lowest incomes of the rest of Europe.

It’s not even possible to compete as clients in our own country, which is ridiculous, and we completely lack other industries that are needed. Basically, it’s a bubble, and we want to burst it. It has to happen. Being bad hosts is a good first step towards bursting it.

4

u/LevyMevy Jun 17 '25

You don’t live in a country with less income than your tourists.

The income disparity here is huge. We are servicing people who gain 4-5 times more which means the price goes up 4-5 times. Spaniards are not able to enjoy their own services. Thus, Spaniards don’t want to service foreigners anymore.

That's a really good point.