A large group of locals in Barcelona, Spain, protested against tourists with water guns and angry signs. Scenes from the protest were captured on film and shared throughout the world. The protest is generating conversations and deeper questions. “Why are the tourists seen as a problem?” The answer to that question has probably been visited before in places such as Hawaii and Mexico City. The issue is that tourists bring in an adverse culture that makes overall life worse for residents. They bring in billions of euros annually, but they also make the cost of living skyrocket for locals who are just regular people. The issue is so bad that there are spraypainted signs that say they would rather take refugees than tourists.
SOURCES:
Irregular migrant arrivals almost doubled in Spain in 2023 | Reuters
Thousands join anti-tourism protests in Barcelona – YouTube
