Panic in Europe as expert warns Spain tourism protests are just the beginning

Europe could see a “wave of protests” against mass tourism as an expert warned that surging visitor numbers, soaring housing prices, and overtourism are reportedly pushing the situation “totally out of balance”. 

The comment comes as Spain has witnessed a rise in the number of anti-tourism protests over the last few months. 

In recent weeks, tens of thousands of protesters have filled the streets of Spain’s most popular tourist destinations, demanding limits on mass tourism and a reassessment of a business model they claim has increased housing prices and forced local residents out of cities.

Peter DeBrine, UNESCO’s senior project officer for sustainable tourism told the Guardian: “What we are seeing is that we are breaching a threshold of tolerance in these destinations.

“It’s really trying to rebalance the situation. It’s totally out of balance now.”

He pointed to a myriad of factors to explain why many in Spain – long one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations – were now leading the backlash against the industry. 

Chief among them was the housing crisis, he said, describing it as the “straw that breaks the camel’s back”.

Tourism has exacerbated existing concerns over the affordability of housing, as the spread of short-term accommodation squeezes local residents out of the market, he added.

Mr DeBrine added: “I think that added a lot of anxiety and frustration for people who are living in these destinations.”

Workers in places such as Ibiza have found themselves with little choice but to live in vans, caravans and tents, while in Málaga, a “sticker rebellion” has seen residents plaster stickers – reading “A family used to live here” or “Go home” – outside tourist lets across the city.

As Spain experiences consecutive record-breaking years for tourism, the soaring number of visitors has been a contributing factor to the protests, said DeBrine.

He added: “In certain destinations, the behaviour of tourists plays a role as well. The lack of respect some tourists show for the places they visit definitely adds to the frustration.”