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ABC News Daily

Why Spain can’t stand tourists anymore

Aug 4, 2024
Claudia, an Australian tourist, shares her unsettling experience of feeling unwelcome in Barcelona. She highlights the rising tensions between locals and visitors, revealing how economic struggles are driving locals to protest against tourism. Sebastian Zenker, a tourism professor, discusses the misguided anger directed towards tourists instead of government policies. They explore the impacts of platforms like Airbnb on housing and suggest strategies like entry fees to ensure that tourism benefits local communities while promoting positive interactions.
14:34

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Quick takeaways

  • Local residents in tourist-heavy cities like Barcelona express growing frustration over rising living costs and overwhelming tourist numbers.
  • Cities are implementing strategies like entrance fees and targeted campaigns to mitigate the negative impacts of over-tourism on residents.

Deep dives

Local Discontent with Tourism

In popular tourist destinations like Barcelona, there is growing frustration among residents regarding the overwhelming number of visitors. Locals have expressed their discontent through public protests, demanding that tourists go home, and the city is taking measures to limit the impact of tourism, such as planning to shut down all holiday apartments by 2028. The influx of tourists has led to increased living costs, making it difficult for residents to afford housing and essential services. Local sentiment underscores a shift in priorities, as many feel that the city has been transformed to cater to tourists at the expense of its residents.

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