The protesters and residents pushing again on tourism in Barcelona

[ad_1] Sarah Rainsford Southern Europe correspondent

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/20c2/live/486708f0-4a70-11f0-9c1e-c7d50b223764.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/20c2/live/486708f0-4a70-11f0-9c1e-c7d50b223764.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/20c2/live/486708f0-4a70-11f0-9c1e-c7d50b223764.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/20c2/live/486708f0-4a70-11f0-9c1e-c7d50b223764.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/20c2/live/486708f0-4a70-11f0-9c1e-c7d50b223764.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/20c2/live/486708f0-4a70-11f0-9c1e-c7d50b223764.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/20c2/live/486708f0-4a70-11f0-9c1e-c7d50b223764.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/20c2/live/486708f0-4a70-11f0-9c1e-c7d50b223764.jpg.webp" loading="eager" alt="BBC Protesters take to the streets against overtourism " class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> BBC As protesters marched by central Barcelona on Sunday, they shouted on the vacationers who had been filming them to "Go House!".

Bemused {couples} sitting in avenue cafés bought squirted with water pistols and a luxurious garments retailer was pasted with stickers declaring the vacationers who'd shut themselves inside unwelcome.

Tourism is massively necessary to Spain and Barcelona is a high vacation spot for guests. However the crowds are rising so quick that many locals complain they're being squeezed out of their very own cities.

Right here and in in style spots throughout southern Europe, residents are pushing again.

The protesters

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/4b7b/live/d4a87dd0-4a70-11f0-960c-a5e429f7eeaf.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/4b7b/live/d4a87dd0-4a70-11f0-960c-a5e429f7eeaf.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/4b7b/live/d4a87dd0-4a70-11f0-960c-a5e429f7eeaf.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/4b7b/live/d4a87dd0-4a70-11f0-960c-a5e429f7eeaf.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/4b7b/live/d4a87dd0-4a70-11f0-960c-a5e429f7eeaf.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/4b7b/live/d4a87dd0-4a70-11f0-960c-a5e429f7eeaf.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/4b7b/live/d4a87dd0-4a70-11f0-960c-a5e429f7eeaf.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/4b7b/live/d4a87dd0-4a70-11f0-960c-a5e429f7eeaf.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Marina, a young woman wearing sunglasses, holds up a sign at a protest " class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> This signal reads "Your AirBnB was my residence"

"We can't stay on this metropolis. The rents are tremendous excessive due to BnBs and likewise the expats who come and stay right here for the climate," Marina defined, holding her personal banner as the group gathered.

It declared "Your AirBnB was my residence".

Different indicators known as for a ban on the enormous cruise ships that dock right here, with one saying that over-tourism is "killing" the town.

"Our objective is to not cease tourism, as a result of it is also good, however to have it at a standard charge," Marina mentioned.

The protesters' route wound in the direction of one among Barcelona's greatest points of interest, the towering Sagrada Familia church designed by Catalan architect, Gaudi.

A mixture of beautiful structure, sea and solar drew greater than 15 million guests to the town final 12 months, virtually ten occasions the native inhabitants. No marvel it is feeling the pressure.

"We're not in opposition to particular person vacationers, it is about how we're managing this," Elena, a younger marine biologist, mentioned.

"Younger folks cannot afford residing right here and even regular issues like espresso which can be all actually costly for our salaries."

The residents

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/3159/live/7b1e47e0-4a70-11f0-960c-a5e429f7eeaf.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/3159/live/7b1e47e0-4a70-11f0-960c-a5e429f7eeaf.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/3159/live/7b1e47e0-4a70-11f0-960c-a5e429f7eeaf.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/3159/live/7b1e47e0-4a70-11f0-960c-a5e429f7eeaf.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/3159/live/7b1e47e0-4a70-11f0-960c-a5e429f7eeaf.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/3159/live/7b1e47e0-4a70-11f0-960c-a5e429f7eeaf.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/3159/live/7b1e47e0-4a70-11f0-960c-a5e429f7eeaf.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/3159/live/7b1e47e0-4a70-11f0-960c-a5e429f7eeaf.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Pepi Viu sits outside in a light green top, she is an older woman with glasses and there is a busy street behind her " class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> Pepi Viu, 80, was evicted from her home earlier this month

It isn't solely the younger who're struggling.

At 80 years previous, Pepi Viu has simply been evicted from her residence of just about a decade, in a well-liked neighbourhood. She thinks the proprietor wished to earn extra lease than the pensioner might pay.

Pepi is now in a hostel, and looking for someplace extra appropriate, however costs have soared virtually 70% since she final rented.

"I am unable to discover something – and there is no assist. I really feel like I've no safety and it is upsetting," she says, frail and leaning on a stick. "There's solely vacationer flats now, however we residents want someplace to stay!"

In some areas of city, virtually all locals like Pepi have already been pushed out.

However in a slender, paved avenue of the Gothic quarter, proper within the vacationer coronary heart of Barcelona, Joan Alvarez is combating to carry on to the flat his household have rented for 25 years, and at a worth he can afford.

His landlord has terminated the contract, however Joan refuses to depart.

A lot of the flats in his constructing have already been divided into single rooms to usher in extra lease.

Joan's little oasis, with tiled flooring and a terrace that appears in the direction of the cathedral, is without doubt one of the few nonetheless intact.

"It isn't simply in regards to the cash, it is the precept," he explains, cats winding by potted vegetation as he talks. "That is central Barcelona and there is hardly any of us residents left. It should not be like that."

"Housing should not be massive enterprise. Sure, that is his property, however it's my home."

The landlords

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/f735/live/0ca44f20-4a71-11f0-960c-a5e429f7eeaf.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/f735/live/0ca44f20-4a71-11f0-960c-a5e429f7eeaf.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/f735/live/0ca44f20-4a71-11f0-960c-a5e429f7eeaf.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/f735/live/0ca44f20-4a71-11f0-960c-a5e429f7eeaf.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/f735/live/0ca44f20-4a71-11f0-960c-a5e429f7eeaf.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/f735/live/0ca44f20-4a71-11f0-960c-a5e429f7eeaf.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/f735/live/0ca44f20-4a71-11f0-960c-a5e429f7eeaf.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/f735/live/0ca44f20-4a71-11f0-960c-a5e429f7eeaf.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Jesus Pereda owns two flats in Central Barcelona which he rents to tourists and says landlords are being scapegoated." class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> Jesus Pereda, who rents two flats to vacationers in central Barcelona, says landlords are being scapegoated

Underneath stress from the protests, the authorities in Barcelona have already taken the novel step of saying an entire ban on short-term leases to vacationers from 2028.

10,000 landlords will lose their vacationer housing licenses.

However Jesus Pereda, who owns two in style vacationer flats not removed from the Sagrada Familia, thinks that is the unsuitable response.

"They stopped giving out new licenses 10 years in the past, however rents have nonetheless gone up. So how are we guilty? We're simply a simple enemy," he insists.

Managing the flats is his job, offering an earnings for himself and his spouse. "Now we have now anxiousness."

Jesus believes it is the 'nomad' staff shifting from elsewhere in Europe who're pushing rents up, fairly than vacationers. "They earn and pay extra. You possibly can't cease that."

He argues that vacationer flats like his assist unfold the crowds, and the money, to different areas of the town. With out tourism he believes Barcelona would have an "existential disaster" - it represents as much as 15% of Spain's gross home product (GDP) as a complete.

If he loses his vacationer license, Jesus will not tackle native tenants in any case: a price-cap means long-term rental is barely worthwhile so he plans to promote each the flats.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/d81c/live/223d5b60-4a9e-11f0-85bc-9740449fbc95.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/d81c/live/223d5b60-4a9e-11f0-85bc-9740449fbc95.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/d81c/live/223d5b60-4a9e-11f0-85bc-9740449fbc95.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/d81c/live/223d5b60-4a9e-11f0-85bc-9740449fbc95.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/d81c/live/223d5b60-4a9e-11f0-85bc-9740449fbc95.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/d81c/live/223d5b60-4a9e-11f0-85bc-9740449fbc95.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/d81c/live/223d5b60-4a9e-11f0-85bc-9740449fbc95.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/d81c/live/223d5b60-4a9e-11f0-85bc-9740449fbc95.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Reuters A man and woman holding water pistols out, while several people with video and still cameras film them during a protest. There is smoke hanging in the air behind them." class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> Reuters In Barcelona, protesters use water pistols to squirt folks in vacationer hot-spots

Chants and firecrackers

The protest in Barcelona culminated in chants of "You are all guiris!" – native slang for foreigners – and a burst of firecrackers. Purple smoke billowed up in entrance of rows of law enforcement officials blocking all routes to the Sagrada Familia.

Slightly earlier, the group had focused a busy lodge, kicking a flare into the foyer. Vacationers inside, together with kids, had been clearly shaken.

There have been comparable protests elsewhere in Spain and extra crowds in Portugal and Italy: not large, however loud and insistent.

The considerations are the identical and there is no consensus on how greatest to deal with it. However Spain is anticipating extra vacationers this summer time than ever.