British holidaymakers travelling to popular European destinations this summer could face a rising tide of anti-tourism protests, as frustrated locals seek to instil a sense of “fear” among visitors.
Fuelled by the impact of mass tourism on housing and daily life, locals in several European countries have expressed their fury and plans to cause a summer of discontent for Britons.
Across countries like Spain, Italy, France, and Portugal, residents are increasingly blaming tourists for surging rents, limited housing availability, and the prioritisation of holiday accommodations over local needs.
Some protestors are even considering targeting airports to make their opposition more visible.
Last summer, major protests broke out in the Balearic and Canary Islands, as well as cities like Barcelona and Málaga
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“We want tourists to have some level of fear about the situation – without fear there is no change,” Elena Boschi, an English language teacher from the Italian Riviera, told the Mirror.
She added: “Our cities and regions are not for sale and there is an urgent need to limit the growth of tourism, demand a change of course and decide on a path to tourism de-growth as a way out.”
The SET European Network Against Touristification, made up of protest groups from 17 cities and regions in southern Europe, is coordinating efforts to combat what they call “predatory tourism.”
Daniel Pardo, a leader of the network, said there is “no one set strategy” and that each area “will decide how they want to take action.”
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Their concerns are echoed in statistics: in Spain, rent prices have doubled over the past decade and home prices have risen by over 44 per cent.
Since the pandemic, the supply of long-term rental housing has dropped significantly, while short-term holiday lets have surged.
Last summer, major protests broke out in the Balearic and Canary Islands, as well as cities like Barcelona and Málaga.
In Barcelona, protesters fired water guns at restaurant diners and taped shut hotel exits while chanting slogans.
A protester is seen holding up a placard reading ‘one more tourist is one less neighbour’ in Spanish
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In Ibiza, tensions escalated when landowners blocked off the popular Es Vedra viewpoint with boulders and signs reading, “Private Property. Restricted Access”.
More recently, the backlash turned violent in Tenerife, where masked activists reportedly set fire to around 20 rental cars in the Costa Adeje resort, a favourite among British tourists.
In Majorca last year, around 15,000 demonstrators flooded the streets to protest soaring property costs.
Banners reading “Salvem Mallorca, guiris arruix” (“Let’s save Majorca, foreigners out”) and chants of “tourists go home” reflected the rising anger.
The term “guiri,” a colloquial and often derogatory reference to foreign tourists, featured heavily in the demonstrations.
