Anti-tourism protesters soak diners with water pistols in Barcelona

Tourists dining in Barcelona were drenched with water guns by angry crowds of anti-tourism protesters marching down the main boulevards.

Carrying banners with slogans including “Tourism kills the city” and “Tourists go home”, several thousand demonstrators rallied through hotspots including the famous La Rambla.

Some of the demonstrators called out insults at tourists who took photographs of the march, while others taped off hotels and restaurants in a symbolic protest at overtourism in the Catalan capital.

The use of water guns by some protestors againt onlooking tourists prompted some heated verbal exchanges, but order was maintained by police escorting the march.

#barcelona #tourist #protest

[johnoneill]

Everyone should boycott spain and see just how well their economy does without tourism

[artboy]

Don’t go to Barcelona anyway ! It’s full of Pickpockets .

[anshadedavana]

From the comments, i understood that over tourism negatively affected the cost of living there and that's why they wanted to limit tourists. However the way chosen is completely inappropriate. Most of the tourists are less likely to know that such issues even exist. I never expected such barbaric behaviour from the citizens of a supposedly progressive European country.

[crocolagerfelden]

As much as I understand and support the locals' desire to limit the flows of tourists, this is not the way to do it. It's rude and these tourists have nothing to do with the local policy-making.

[snotnosedlilkid]

I respect the Spanish people’s wishes.I will never visit this city again.

[DennisBlake-bfmp]

Greece is much cleaner than Spain and they value tourism

[Njf-gg]

Spain will be finished without tourism

[fazertace]

Spains economy survives on tourism. Just visit another country.

[Memnon-mhvc]

Attacking tourist is low level, does that mean spanish people should not visit any other country?

[herbertjohnston]

It's not the tourists' fault blame your politicians theres lots of sun elsewhere.

[blancamunozmartinez]

I am Spanish and i really feel shame with this... Are we losing our minds? Anyway, this is Barcelona... come to Madrid!

[TheAtlasReview]

And they'll be protesting again if those tourists take their money out of Spain.

[RunEnabled]

How will the pickpockets of Barcelona survive without tourists?

[rickylequesne]

Never liked Spain. They can have it to themselves.

[UnIimited_Power]

And of course none of them have ever been a tourist in a foreign country themselves.

[adlerzwei]

I can understand their frustration but taking their anger out on random tourists is just cruel. Imagine going to a foreign country on vacation and being made to feel so unwanted. These aren't even obnoxious party tourists. Just families having a meal. 😢

[johnq.public]

Tourist money helps the economy, provides jobs. Are they really this stupid?

[HKim]

What a total crime...
Eating at a Taco Bell in Spain, lol.

[vcs]

What would Barcelona do without that 12 million tourists a year? All those restaurants, bars, cafes, hotels, airbnbs, tourist attractions that actually give jobs to locals would close down in a minute. Think twice.

[yogaconsarah]

This is an absolute disgrace. As a Brit living in Barcelona for over 25 years, I am appalled at this behaviour. Totally disrespectful and out of order. Incredible that they are allowed to do this people quietly enjoying city life. I hope these people don't travel to other countries themselves. Disgusted right now