Barcelona Protest Targets Perceived Overtourism

Spain's tourism minister, Jordi Hereu, has criticized protesters in Barcelona who sprayed tourists with water pistols, denouncing their actions as reprehensible and exaggerated by the media. The demonstrators, under the slogan 'Enough! Let's put limits on tourism,' demanded reduced tourist numbers and a new economic model. Rising housing costs and impacts on local commerce due to tourism are key concerns for the movement. Hereu emphasized the need to regulate and diversify the tourism sector for sustainability, proposing measures like limiting short-term rentals. Barcelona's mayor announced plans to phase out tourist apartment rentals by 2028 to address soaring housing costs and maintain livability for residents.