The locals in Barcelona have chosen a weird way to raise their voices against the city getting flooded by tourists. On Saturday, some sprinkled water on visitors to scare others away.
In this unique form of protest, the locals of Barcelona raised their voices against the growing count of visitors who, according to them, had made living in Barcelona unbearable.
Barcelona Residents Demand Tourist Limits Now
The protest march through the streets of Spain's most-visited city was not just about the water-splashing incident. It was a cry for help from the residents who felt the charm and livability of Barcelona were under threat.
Signs and banners reading "Enough! Let's put limits on tourism" could be seen waving among the crowd.
The tourism problem in Barcelona has been growing: it received more than 12 million visitors last year alone, Travel Pulse stated. This surplus is what has made the cost of housing shoot by almost 70% in just a decade, pushing locals out of their own city.
Protesters want the authorities to take stringent measures to reduce the number of tourists as quickly as possible.
This protest in Barcelona is also part of a movement across the European continent, where cities like Amsterdam and Venice are rebelling against mass tourism equally.
The mayor of Barcelona has acknowledged people's behavior toward mass tourism. He said steps might have to be taken to control the tourist boom.
However, among Europe's most visited spots, Barcelona persistently needs help to balance warm hospitality toward visitors and ensure a high quality of life for residents.
Tourist Limits Intensified Amid Crowding
Following the declaration of Barcelona city council officials as being at full tourist capacity, a touristic tax increase will be implemented for the second time this year.
This is in the hope that it manages to control and regulate the huge number of visitors, approximately 32 million, that visit the city annually.
According to Planet Attractions, the new rise will come into effect from October, after which visitors will pay €4 per night as opposed to the present €3.25. It is the second rise since the beginning of April when it went up from €2.75 per night.
In addition, a regional tourist tax stands at €3.50 per night, and the total levy on a week's stay becomes €52.50. It forms part of a greater plan to wean Barcelona off mass tourism and refocus on fewer but higher-spending visitors.
In what might be referred to as an initiative to further tighten the noose on tourist numbers, Barcelona will revoke all licenses for holiday rentals by November 2028, affecting some 10,000 apartments in short-lets.
Such a decision would prevent prominent online rental platforms like Booking.com and Airbnb from offering short-term rentals across the city.
Additionally, the Barcelona City Council has once more introduced stringent legislation on constructing new hotels by adopting a policy that drastically limited new licenses between 2015 and 2023.
This proves their commitment to the city to reshape its tourism model towards quality and with less quantity.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
