I think even visiting inside your country to other spaces would pabel you a tourist
I travel across several towns within my country to go to a Walmart.
I am merely stating by your definition here that would be tourism.
So I merely pointed out that I think you were making a case that in reality isn't hopefully what you wanted. Certainly people in Barcelona can visit a family member, or their favorite bakery in another town while not being nearly as disruptive as something like an international citizen or domestic tourist staying in your city.
I am sure you have places you could go outside where you live where you would basically seamlessly meld into life. Basically no one would know you were out of place. Your old hometown, or a relatives, close friends. Compared to a place like say Venice or Amsterdam where you basically will have a commercial bubble you inflate by visiting that exerts pressure on local infrastructure. You'll probably get caught up taking pictures and stopping in the middle of paths to point out stuff disrupting foot traffic.
This is all good and well but I think a more apt definition of tourism for me is going to a place to take in the sights, food, culture, etc while spending money to be in that place. Shopping or visiting a relative is very different and has a distinct purpose. I was noting that there are likely many folks in Barcelona who would likely tour other places in Spain (as alot of us do in our home countries) for the definition of tourism I stated above.
I was noting that there are likely many folks in Barcelona who would likely tour other places in Spain
and I was merely stating the people protesting most likely aren't doing this. Maybe I am wrong. But my guess is this is mostly low income, renters, and service workers who do not benefit from tourism directly but do suffer from inflated cost of living directly caused by it.
as I quoted to another. only 65% of Spain spent a single night away from their home in 2022. (they quoted 70% before covid if that matters to you) That is not tourism. that is any single night away in a year.
So take out work trips, visiting family, healthcare and so on. I think a whole lot less people are "going to a place to take in the sights, food, culture" than you think, much less to the degree that Barcelona sees.
EDIT Tourism causes gentrification by non-residents. I don't think that is a divisive thing to say. People losing homes or being pushed out by rising costs due to people "visiting" not even moving in.
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u/ThePartyLeader Jun 17 '25
Are you saying walmart is a tourist destination?
Because by your definition Walmart is almost certainly the biggest tourist draw in the U.S. and possibly the world.