The controversy over mass tourism in Spain extends beyond the summer season as the country continues to welcome tourists seeking winter sunshine.
On Sunday, residents of <a href="http://www.world-today-news.com/seven-more-blue-flags-for-the-canary-islands-be-las-palmas/" title="Seven more blue flags for the Canary Islands | BE Las Palmas”>San Sebastian in the Basque Country are planning a demonstration under the slogan “We are in danger – Reduce tourism!”, while a protest in Seville follows in November. Just last week, thousands took to the streets in the Canary Islands, confirming that the problem remains.
2023 looks set to be a turning point for the backlash against tourism, as the post-pandemic tourist “fever” has brought visitor numbers back up and often exceeded 2019 levels. Arrivals to Spain are expected to reach 90 million foreign visitors by the end of the year, with estimates of 115 million by 2040, surpassing even France as a top tourist destination.
The first protests of the year began in April in the Canary Islands, with six protesters in Tenerife staging a hunger strike to stop two major tourism projects. In the summer, protests continued in popular tourist destinations such as the Balearic Islands, Alicante and Barcelona, where some protesters targeted tourists with water pistols, shouting “Tourists, go home!”
The local association Bizilagunekin, which is organizing the San Sebastian demonstration, said that “tourism is the golden egg for some, but an economic model that is suffocating the rest.” According to association representative Asier Basurto, rising rents and increasing short-term rentals are forcing residents out of their historic city center.
Tourism accounts for about 13% of Spain’s GDP and provides three million jobs, with supporters pointing out that the tourism industry has been a key factor in post-pandemic recovery. However, incidents of intense protest, such as the rally in Tenerife where protesters shouted near tourists, are causing backlash.
Local authorities are trying to limit the phenomenon of tourist fatigue with new measures. Barcelona has announced a ban on short-term tourist apartments from 2028, while Palma de Mallorca has imposed a limit on the number of cruise ships that can dock at the port. In Tenerife a new visitor limit was introduced in some natural parks, while in Seville there will be a charge to enter the iconic Plaza de España.
Despite the measures, Basurto believes the protests must continue: “If we don’t change now, it will be too late.”
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