Thousands of people have demonstrated in Barcelona against over-tourism in the Catalan capital, as anger grows in Spain, the world’s second-largest tourist destination.

With the slogan “Enough! Let’s put limits on tourism,” the protesters demanded to change the economic model for the city, Spain’s number one tourist destination.

“We have nothing against tourism, but with excessive tourism, yes, because it makes the city unlivable,” explained Jordi Gouyo, a 70-year-old Barcelona sociologist.

Behind a banner reading “Cut tourism now!”, protesters marched chanting slogans such as “tourists out of our neighborhoods”, stopping in front of hotels to the consternation of tourists.

Opponents of hypertourism decry its effects on house prices – rents have risen by 68% over the past decade, according to Barcelona’s municipality – but also its consequences for local shops, the environment or the working conditions of residents. locals.

“Neighborhood shops are closing to give way to a commercial model that does not correspond to the needs of the neighborhood. People (…) can’t pay the rent, they are forced to leave,” says a 35-year-old musician who lives in the Barceloneta district.

Barcelona welcomed more than 12 million tourists last year, according to figures from the city’s municipality.

To facilitate residents’ access to the roof, the municipality announced its intention to stop renting tourist accommodation until 2029.

From the Balearic Islands to the Canary Islands and Malaga, anti-overtourism events are multiplying in Spain.

Spain is the second most popular tourist destination in the world after France. Last year it welcomed 85.1 million visitors.

The region with the largest number of visitors is Catalonia, with 18 million. This is followed by the Balearic Islands (14.4 million) and the Canary Islands (13.9 million).

The tourism sector in Spain represents 12.8% of GDP and 12.6% of employment.