A wave of coordinated protests is sweeping across Southern Europe as residents in Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, Venice, and Lisbon express anger over overtourism. Citizens staged symbolic actions—from water pistol protests in Barcelona to mass marches in Palma—demanding limits on short-term rentals, cruise tourism, and housing displacement.

Why Locals Are Protesting Overtourism

• Housing Crisis: Surging tourist demand drives up rents and displaces locals.
• Environmental Strain: Cruise ships, overcrowding, and infrastructure stress ecosystems.
• Cultural Dilution: Historic neighborhoods risk losing identity to tourist-focused businesses.

Coordinated Backlash Across Europe

The Southern European Network Against Touristification has become a leading force, organizing demonstrations that highlight “touristification” as a threat to community life. In Genoa, activists carried cardboard cruise ships through alleyways, while Lisbon residents staged mock evictions to represent homes lost to short-term rentals.

Barcelona has announced plans to cancel 10,000 short-term rental licenses by 2028, a major policy shift intended to alleviate the housing crisis.

Key Protest Highlights