If you have recently been to Barcelona, you may have noticed some unusual things happening. Since early summer, popular spots like La Rambla, Gracia, and Parc Guell have been covered in graffiti saying “Tourists go home.” This is all part of the larger protest against mass tourism by locals in Barcelona.
A demonstration on July 6 saw between 10,000 and 15,000 people taking to the streets, protesting against tourism (although police estimates put the number at around 3,000). Some protesters even targeted individual tourists, spraying them with water pistols while they were enjoying coffee or lunch. They also cordoned off hotels and restaurants with red tape to “reclaim” territory.
This movement has gained international attention, putting pressure on Barcelona’s politics and daily life to change. Even the city’s renowned football club is closely watching the situation.
Barcelona starts every season with a home friendly match for the Joan Gamper Trophy, a tradition dating back to the mid-1960s to honor one of the club’s founders. This year, Monaco visited, winning 3-0, but Barca has since had a strong start to the new league season.
Many tourists attending the match spoke to The Athletic on their way to Barca’s temporary home on Montjuic. Stuart, a 34-year-old English tourist, felt that tourists were being treated unfairly and believed the issue lay with the government needing to find a solution. Giulia, a 34-year-old Italian resident of Barcelona, shared similar sentiments.
Marti Cuso, involved in organizing the protests, emphasized that the issue lies with the economic system, not individual tourists. He highlighted the negative impact of tourism on residents and stressed the importance of finding economic alternatives planned for the city.
Street graffiti in Barcelona – Guiri is a colloquial term for a badly behaved or obnoxious tourist (Paco Freire/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Tourism is crucial to Barcelona, with the city’s football club being a significant attraction. The club’s museum is highly popular and draws many tourists. Measures have been taken to address the impact of tourism, such as penalizing season ticket holders who do not release their seats for resale if they cannot attend a game.
The City Council of Barcelona has outlined steps to limit mass tourism’s impact on the city, including reducing short-term holiday lets and increasing the tourist tax. Barca is monitoring the situation closely, aware that negative news could deter tourists from coming.
Cuso remains skeptical of the measures proposed, believing they do not go far enough. He also doubts that recent protests and graffiti will deter tourists from visiting Barcelona.
Tourists find themselves caught up in the July 6 protest in Barcelona (Josep Lago/AFP via Getty Images)
Concerns about the impact of mass tourism on the Barca fan experience have also arisen, with previous incidents causing embarrassment for the club. Measures have been taken to prevent overcrowding and ensure a more pleasant experience for fans.
Protesters in Barcelona – demonstrations have also taken place in other parts of Spain (Paco Freire/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
The City Council is taking steps to address the impact of mass tourism in Barcelona, with plans to reduce short-term holiday lets and increase the tourist tax. Barca is closely monitoring the situation, as negative news could deter tourists from visiting the city.
Ultimately, concerns about the impact of mass tourism on the Barca fan experience remain, as the club continues to navigate the challenges of balancing tourism with the local community’s needs.
(Top photo: Getty Images. Visual design by Eamonn Dalton)