Anti-tourism protests intensify in southern Europe

Europe: Cities across Spain, Italy and Portugal have seen a wave of anti-tourism demonstrations in recent weeks, as local residents voice frustration over rising living costs and housing shortages linked to mass tourism and holiday lets.

Protests have taken place in destinations including Barcelona, Mallorca, Malaga, Lisbon, Venice and the Canary Islands, where residents argue that the surge in short-term rentals, cruise tourism and visitor numbers is pricing out locals and placing pressure on public services.

In Palma, Mallorca’s capital, campaigners unfurled banners reading “Tourists go home” and sprayed slogans outside hotels. Similar protests were seen in Malaga, where activists called for restrictions on cruise arrivals and stricter regulation of holiday rentals.

In Lisbon, demonstrators gathered outside the Portuguese parliament demanding a halt to new tourist accommodation licences. And in Venice, which has recently introduced a day-trip entry fee,  residents joined a protest against “the tourist monoculture,” with signs warning of a city “sold to tourists.”

Organisers behind the protests say their aim is not to end tourism, but to push for more balanced models that prioritise affordable housing, sustainable visitor numbers and the needs of year-round residents.

The growing backlash comes as some governments begin to introduce tighter rules on short-term lets and licensing schemes. However, campaigners say enforcement remains inconsistent, and tourism pressures continue to mount in the summer season.

In a recent report, Airbnb argued that short-term rentals account for a small proportion of overnight stays in the EU and that hotels, cruises and airlines are the main contributors to overtourism. The company says that flexible short-term rental supply can help disperse visitors and bring economic benefits to less-travelled areas.

Takeaways:

• Anti-tourism protests escalate in Spain, Portugal and Italy amid housing and holiday let concerns
• Residents call for stricter regulation of short-term rentals in popular European destinations
• Tourism backlash grows as locals demand action on overtourism and affordable housing