Holiday Mode: Is Tourism Getting a Bit Crowded?
Pack your bags for sun, sea, and water pistols.
Tourism can be vital: it brings in money, creates jobs, and lets us pretend we’re in an advert set to Jess Glynne music. Sometimes, especially when everyone seems to be going to the same place at the same time, things can start to feel a little … jam-packed. As holiday season approaches, let’s consider the effects of tourism.
Barcelona’s Breaking Point
Last month, Barcelona saw another series of protests – more of an organised middle finger by the community rather than anything severe. On the other hand, the use of water pistols was enough to send holidaymakers ducking into shops, not quite the welcome most tourists expect. The route looped around the Sagrada Familia, Spain’s most-visited landmark, while people held signs reading: “Your Airbnb used to be my home”. The point from locals? It’s not about a tourist, it’s about tourists, in their masses.
To put it into perspective, Barcelona saw over 15 million tourists in 2024; this is almost ten times the population. The ramifications of this are widespread – younger residents can’t afford coffee, let alone rent. The elderly are having the homes they’ve lived in for decades sold by landlords for the possibility of increased rent, leading them to be evicted. The city has responded, announcing that short-term rentals for tourists will be phased out by 2028. But not everyone’s on board: landlords say they’re being used as scapegoats, asserting they’re merely responding to the influx in wealthy European workers moving over to live their Barcelonan dream.
A Global Trend
This isn’t just isolated to Barcelona: similar sentiments are shared across Europe, as well as internationally. Conversation is simmering notably in Venice, Amsterdam, Lisbon, and even Tokyo, notably louder in the last 5 years since the pandemic. While, as people feared, the halting of travelling thanks to COVID-19 restrictions caused many to lose their jobs in tourist areas, the lack of visitors brought peace. This allowed residents to rediscover the benefits of a quieter home, as well as, in areas ecologically affected by tourism, the recovery of wildlife. As a result of this, as well as the record-breaking tourism surge post-pandemic, refuelled an onset of local unrest. Overall, as asserted by Barcelonan residents, their frustration isn’t with you as an individual tourist. However, as we enter holiday season, it remains paramount that we become better tourists!
Being a Better Tourist
Do some research and respect the area: it is important to pack appropriate clothes and be respectful to learn certain social customs!
Eat, shop, and stay at local places: this is important for the economy, all while giving you a more authentic experience. Bear the environment in mind: do not litter or damage wildlife, and where possible, travel greenly. Learn basic words in the local language: not only is this respectful, but it also avoids the embarrassment of trying to Google Translate “toilet”.
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