Residents vs. Tourists: Barcelona’s Struggle with Overtourism
Written by: Devira Khumaira
Unlike cities that seek to attract tourists, Barcelona endeavors to ‘drive’ tourists out of the town. On July 6, 2024, approximately 3,000 residents of Barcelona, representing 140 activist organizations, held a demonstration against the overtourism that has occurred in the Canary Islands and Mallorca Islands over the past few months (Hughes, 2024). In their protests, demonstrators demanded that the government immediately limit the number of tourist visits, which are expected to reach a new record after the summer ends. They are concerned that increasing tourist visits will harm local residents. As a symbolic action, demonstrators blocked the fronts of several hotels and restaurants, then sprayed tourists with water guns while shouting “Tourists go home”.
Overtourism in Barcelona is not merely a recent phenomenon. Following its hosting of the 1992 Olympics, Barcelona became one of the most popular tourist destinations, steadily increasing in popularity each year (Brown, n.d.). According to the Barcelona Tourism Observatory in 2024, the city welcomed 15.6 million tourist visits in 2023 (Edmonds, 2024). Several factors contributed to the high volume of tourists in Barcelona, including its pleasant Mediterranean climate, convenient transportation access, and its wealth of historical sites such as Park Güell, Casa Milà, and Casa Batlló, iconic masterpieces by the legendary architect Antoni Gaudí (Khoiri, 2024). Additionally, the presence of the Barcelona Football Club (FC) also adds to the city’s allure for tourists.
In reality, overtourism has various negative impacts, particularly affecting residents. One of the most significant impacts is gentrification, which involves the displacement of residents due to the conversion of properties into tourist accommodations, such as hotels and apartments (Sánchez-Aguilera & González Pérez, 2021). Gentrification has wide-ranging effects across sectors, including exacerbating housing crises and leading to substantial increases in property prices (Hughes, 2024). Data released by local authorities indicates that housing prices have risen by 68% over the past decade (Khoiri, 2024). Furthermore, gentrification results in the loss of public spaces through the government’s privatization of property for the development of tourism infrastructure. Consequently, gentrification can potentially foster conflicts between the state and society.
Not only does gentrification occur, but overtourism also harms the environment. Air and noise pollution generated by cruise ships and planes, the primary modes of transportation for tourists visiting Barcelona, exemplify this impact. Indirectly, this pollution can diminish the quality of life and affect the health of local residents. Another inevitable consequence is the over-reliance on the tourism sector. While tourism positively influences Barcelona’s economic growth, it also leads the government to depend heavily on this sector. Excessive reliance on tourism is evidenced by a shift in economic focus from a trading economy to a service-oriented one. Specialization in the tourism sector subsequently limits opportunities for development in other productive sectors.
In response to overtourism, the government has implemented various measures to address its effects. In April of this year, the city tax rate was raised from €2.75 to €3.25, with plans to further increase the tourist tax to €4 by next October (Pamela, 2024). These tax hikes are part of ongoing efforts to mitigate the impacts of the tourism sector. Additionally, the government has introduced policies aimed at restricting apartment rentals, particularly to foreign tourists. This initiative includes the revocation of permits for 10,101 apartments currently designated for short-term tourist accommodation, which will be converted into permanent housing for local residents. Both policies are scheduled to take effect in 2028.
References
Brown, V. (n.d.). Overtourism in Barcelona. Retrieved July 9, 2024 from https://www.responsibletravel.com/copy/overtourism-in-barcelona
Edmonds, D. (2024, July 7). Protesters Spray Water Guns at Tourists in Barcelona as Thousands Rally Against Overtourism. Retrieved July 9, 2024 from https://www.businessinsider.com/photos-of-protesters-rallying-against-overtourism-in-barcelona-2024-7
Hughes, R. A. (2024, July 8). Barcelona Protesters Spray Visitors with Water: Why has Europe Fallen Out of Love with Tourism?. Retrieved July 9, 2024 from https://www.euronews.com/travel/2024/07/08/fake-signs-and-hunger-strikes-whats-behind-europes-backlash-against-overtourism
Khoiri, A. M. (2024, July 8). Warga Barcelona Muak, Usir Turis dengan Tembakan Pistol Air. Retrieved July 9, 2024 from https://www.detik.com/sumbagsel/wisata/d-7428427/warga-barcelona-muak-usir-turis-dengan-tembakan-pistol-air
Pamela, D. A. (2024, 26 Maret). Barcelona Spanyol Naikkan Pajak Wisata Mulai 1 April 2024, Bayar Hotel Jadi Lebih Mahal. Retrieved July 10, 2024 from https://www.liputan6.com/lifestyle/read/5559636/barcelona-spanyol-naikkan-pajak-wisata-mulai-1-april-2024-bayar-hotel-jadi-lebih-mahal
Sánchez-Aguilera, D., & González-Pérez, J. M. (2021). “Geographies of Gentrification in Barcelona: Tourism as a Driver Social Change”. In International Residential Mobilities. Switzerland: Springer.
