As tourism booms in Barcelona, locals take to the streets in defiance—calling for rent control, eviction protections, and an end to mass short-term rentals that are pricing residents out of their own city.
Barcelona, June 16:
Cries of “Go home!” echoed through the streets of central Barcelona on Sunday as frustrated locals targeted tourists with water pistols, protest banners, and red smoke, accusing mass tourism of displacing them from their homes and communities. As the city’s over-tourism crisis deepens, protesters say housing rights and community welfare are being sacrificed in favour of profit-driven rentals and unregulated growth.
From cruise ships to Airbnbs, Barcelona’s booming popularity as a travel destination has reached a boiling point with residents who feel increasingly squeezed out of their own city.
“Your Airbnb Used To Be My Home”
“We cannot live in this city,” said Marina, one of the demonstrators, holding a sign that read: “Your Airbnb used to be my home.”
“Rents are super high because of BnBs and expats coming here for the weather. We’re not against tourism—but this is unsustainable,” she added.
Their route led through the heart of the city, toward the iconic Sagrada Familia, where protesters shouted slogans, squirted bemused tourists with water pistols, and pasted anti-tourism stickers on a luxury store’s windows. One banner read, “Over-tourism is killing the city.”
Unlivable Rents, Evictions, and Displacement
Barcelona welcomed over 15 million tourists last year, nearly ten times the city’s population, pushing housing prices to record highs and making everyday life unaffordable, especially for young residents and pensioners.
Elena, a marine biologist in her 20s, expressed dismay:
“Young people can’t afford to live here or even enjoy basic things like coffee. Everything’s priced for tourists now, not for us.”
That economic strain isn’t limited to the youth.
Pepi Viu, 80, was recently evicted from her home of nearly a decade in a popular neighborhood. “I can’t find anything I can afford. There’s no support. It’s just tourist flats now,” she said tearfully. “But we residents need a place to live!”
“It’s My House Too”
In the historic Gothic Quarter, Joan Alvarez is resisting eviction from the flat his family has rented for 25 years. With most neighboring apartments already split into micro-rentals for tourists, Joan stands his ground:
“This isn’t just about money. This is about dignity. Yes, it’s his property, but it’s my house too. Housing shouldn’t be big business.”
City’s Drastic Move: Short-Term Rental Ban by 2028
In response to mounting pressure, Barcelona authorities have announced a total ban on short-term tourist rentals starting in 2028, revoking 10,000 licenses. It’s a landmark move—unprecedented in Europe—but not without backlash.
Jesus Pereda, a licensed landlord who runs two tourist flats near the Sagrada Familia, feels scapegoated.
“They stopped new licenses 10 years ago, but rents still went up. We’re not the problem,” he said.
Managing these flats is his livelihood. “Now we live with anxiety. If I lose the license, I’ll sell the flats. Long-term renting doesn’t work under price caps.”
He blames “digital nomads” more than tourists: “They earn more, they pay more—you can’t control that.”
Still, tourism accounts for 15% of Spain’s GDP, and cities like Barcelona face a conundrum: how to protect residents while preserving the economy?
Firecrackers, Flares and Global Echoes
The protest ended in dramatic fashion—chants of “You’re all guiris!” (local slang for foreigners), firecrackers, and a red smoke cloud outside Sagrada Familia, where police blocked further access. Protesters even launched a flare into a busy hotel lobby, startling tourists and children.
Similar anti-tourism demonstrations erupted in other Spanish cities, Portugal, and Italy, with thousands demanding rent controls, stricter tourist caps, and stronger housing rights.
Though the protests aren’t yet massive in numbers, their message is growing louder—locals want cities that work for them, not just visitors.
Spain, meanwhile, braces for a record-breaking tourist season this summer.