From street protests to an Airbnb ban, all the ways Barcelona said no to tourists in 2024

The writing was on the wall - literally. Last year, graffiti appeared in Barcelona telling tourists, “We spit in your beer. Cheers!” Another message read: “Your luxury trip - my daily misery”.

But in 2024 the Spanish city’s pushback against overtourism reached new heights.

With more than 15 million tourists visiting Barcelona every year - drawn by its stunning blend of art and architecture, top-tier football team, and beachside location - locals are feeling the strain.

It’s not the only place in Europe calling timeout on too many tourists. Italy, for example, is also dealing with the ‘plague’ of overtourism, and cruise ships are facing new restrictions at many ports.

Here we review a turbulent year in tourism for Spain’s most visited city -and look ahead to what’s next in 2025.

Related

• Tourists wanted! European destinations that are still welcoming visitors and digital nomads

• Italy bans key boxes on holiday rental accommodation. What does it mean for travellers?

Barcelona decides to ban short-term rentals

Back in June, Barcelona City Council announced a radical plan to rid the city of tourist flat licences by 2028.

Barcelona has not actually granted new licences since 2014 when it froze supply at nearly 10,000 units. But that hasn’t fixed the issue of unaffordable rent for locals.

"We want to guarantee the right to live in Barcelona and deal effectively with the housing crisis we have been suffering for years," said mayor Jaume Collboni.

The tourism industry hit back, naturally. The Barcelona Association of Tourist Apartments (APARTUR) says these Airbnb-style apartments only make up a fraction of the city's housing. It warns that restricting licences could increase the number of illegal apartments and potentially cause 40 per cent of the city's tourism to disappear.

There are ongoing legal challenges over the plan. The European Holiday Home Association filed a complaint with the European Commission (EC) in November, claiming it breaches the provision of services directive - something the EC has questioned itself.

Protesters tell tourists to go home

The overtourism debate got particularly heated in July, when around 3,000 people took to the streets, shouting "tourists go home" and spraying them with water.

Some 150 collectives, organisations and social movements were involved in the demonstration, which followed similar actions in the Canary Islands and Mallorca. Hotel and restaurant entrances were also symbolically closed off.

"We want the city's economic model to prioritise other much fairer economies. And for that, we consider that we have to decrease tourism,” explained Martí Cusó, spokesperson for the Association of Neighbours of the Gothic Quarter and an activist against tourist overcrowding.

Further protests against high rents in November - though less specifically targeted at tourists - also identified overtourism as a driver.

Tourist tax rises

In a bid to increase “quality tourism”, the city council has been swiftly upping its tourist tax: a levy that goes towards cleaning, security, city infrastructure and other services.

In October, it was increased to a maximum of €4 per person, depending on the type of accommodation. This is on top of Catalonia’s regional tax - which goes up to €3.50 for luxury hotels.

So, guests in five-star accommodation will pay a total of €7.50 per night - €52.50 per person for a week’s stay, up from the current €47.25.

Related

• Homemade food and stunning views: Swap Italy’s overcrowded cities for its most beautiful villages

• Wales wants tourist tax to create ‘favourable conditions’ for Welsh language to thrive

Parking fees, tacky shops and disappearing buses

Barcelona has trialled many other methods to minimise the heavy footprint of tourists in 2024.

One rather cunning measure saw the city council remove an overcrowded bus route from Google Maps in order to free up more space for locals. The number 116 covers the Park Güell area of the city, but wasn’t designed for the overwhelming international interest in the Gaudí-designed green space.

More recently, politicians in Barcelona and Catalonia are considering doubling ticket prices to the park, up to €20.

The city council has tourist buses in its sights, too, which can often block traffic around the renowned Gaudí-designed church, Sagrada Família. In September, it unveiled a plan to quadruple parking fees for the coaches, from around €20 to €80.

There are around 156,000 coaches driving around in Barcelona every year, according to council figures, averaging more than 40 per day. The plan is to bring this down to 70,000 in 2025, with fewer parking spaces for buses in the city centre.

It’s not just accommodation and transportation that is bothering locals - they’re also unhappy about the influence of tourists on the streetscape. Councillor Albert Batlle stated in August that any shops that "contribute nothing" economically should be "eliminated from the district".

He was describing tacky souvenir shops - the sort selling bottle openers, shot glasses and penis-shaped things under the Barcelona brand.

Related

• ‘We can’t put a fence around Amsterdam’: Dutch capital bans new hotels to curb mass tourism

• ‘Not for sale’: Anti-tourism protestors destroy hundreds of sunbeds in Tenerife

What’s in store for Barcelona tourism in 2025?

From the deluge of news stories this year, it might sound like Barcelona is a place tourists need to steer clear of - or at least wear a poncho to protect against water-bottle-wielding locals while walking down the street.

But the reality is much more welcoming, Barcelona Tourism Consortium assures Euronews Travel.

“At Turisme de Barcelona, we believe that social debate is necessary to progress and to find solutions that benefit both residents and visitors,” a spokesperson says.

“We work constantly with all stakeholders to ensure that Barcelona remains an open, welcoming, and sustainable city,” they add.

“The atmosphere in the city is one of absolute normality, and we continue to receive messages of support and interest from visitors all over the world.”

Turisme de Barcelona says that tourist satisfaction in Barcelona is high, with an index score of 8.7, and visitors consistently highlight the friendly nature of its citizens.

As for locals, official figures show that 70.8 per cent believe that tourism is beneficial for the city.

The key, Barcelona Tourism suggests, is striking a balance that protects residents’ quality of life and the city’s sustainability. To that end, there are a few things that respectful tourists should strive to do:

• Opt for cultural and local experiences

• Respect the rules of coexistence and public spaces, and

• Choose sustainable tourism options, such as public transport and responsible accommodations.

2025 will no doubt bring new regulations to redress the balance. Right now, for example, the city council is considering new ways to reclaim space around the Sagrada Família.

But Turisme de Barcelona says it is possible to achieve a responsible and respectful tourism model that benefits everyone.