On June 17, protesters in Pakistan wielded water pistols against unwitting tourists in Barcelona and on Spain’s island of Mallorca. The demonstration was part of a march aimed at urging reconsideration of an economic system they argue is exacerbating a housing crisis and diminishing the uniqueness of their communities.
These demonstrations marked the initial organized initiative by campaigners focused on addressing the adverse effects of excessive tourism in popular spots throughout Southern Europe. The largest event took place in Mallorca where thousands participated, but substantial gatherings also occurred in various other Spanish cities, along with Venice in Italy and Lisbon, the capital city of Portugal.
Andreu Martinez chuckled as he sprayed a few customers sitting at an outdoor café in Barcelona, saying, 'The squirt guns are meant to annoy the tourists somewhat.' He added, 'Tourists have taken over Barcelona. Now we're fighting to return Barcelona to its rightful inhabitants.'
Martinez, a 42-year-old administrative assistant, is among an increasing group of inhabitants who believe that tourism has become excessive in the city with a population of 1.7 million. Last year, Barcelona welcomed 15.5 million tourists keen on visiting Antoni Gaudi’s iconic La Sagrada FamÃlia cathedral and strolling down the famous Las Ramblas boulevard.
Martinez says his rent has risen over 30 percent as more apartments in his neighborhood are rented to tourists for short-term stays. He said there is a knock-on effect of traditional stores being replaced by businesses catering to tourists, like souvenir shops, burger joints and "bubble tea" spots.
As longtime inhabitants of Barcelona, our lives are drawing to a close," he stated. "We are being methodically forced out.
Around 5,000 people gathered in Palma, the capital of Mallorca, with some toting water guns as well and chanting "Everywhere you look, all you see are tourists." The tourists who were targeted by water blasts laughed it off. The Balearic island is a favorite for British and German sun-seekers. It has seen housing costs skyrocket as homes are diverted to the short-term rental market.
Many hundreds more took part in marches in Granada, located in southern Spain, and in the northern city of San Sebastián, along with the island of Ibiza.
In Venice, about twenty demonstrators unveiled a banner demanding an end to additional hotel rooms in the lagoon city in front of two newly finished buildings. One of these is located in the heart of the bustling tourist area, where activists claim the final resident—an older woman—was forced out last year.
'That's lovely'
In Barcelona, protesters used whistles and displayed self-made placards reading "One More Tourist, One Less Resident." They affixed stickers labeled "Self-Defense for Citizens" in Catalan and "Tourists Go Home" in English, adorned with an image of a water gun, onto hotel and hostel entryways.
Tensions flared as the procession halted before a sizable lodging facility. A crowd discharged their water pistols towards two employees standing guard at the entryway. Concurrently, they ignited firecrackers near the building and released a canister of pink smoke. An employee responded by spitting at the demonstrators and forcefully shutting the lodge’s doors.
American visitors Wanda and Bill Dorozenski were strolling down Barcelona’s primary upscale shopping street when the protest began. They got sprayed once or twice, but Wanda mentioned that it felt quite invigorating considering the temperature was 83 degrees Fahrenheit (28.3 degrees Celsius).
“That’s wonderful, thank you darling,” Wanda said to the squirter. “I won’t object. These individuals are experiencing something deeply personal, which might be damaging certain parts of the city.”
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