On 5 April, Spaniards across 40 cities took to the streets in order to protest against mass tourism and its effects on their country and living conditions. Despite mass protests in 2024 and some government measures trying to combat mass tourism, visitor numbers have been on the rise and might well once again reach a record high.
In Spain, 2024 was marked by marches and protests against tourists. Locals took to the streets in order to show their discontent over the impact of mass tourism on their own living conditions. Aside from the fact that popular town centres are getting ever more crowded, high demand by tourists also drives up property prices and puts a strain on already scarce water resources. Popular tourist hotspots such as the Spanish Balearic Islands, Madrid, and Barcelona thus saw mass demonstrations in 2024 and it doesn’t look like 2025 will be any different.
Despite residents’ protests over the last year, Spain has never welcomed as many tourists as it did in 2024. The UN World Tourism Barometer revealed that 2024 saw a 10 per cent increase up to 94 million visitors and revenues from those foreign visitors went up 16 per cent, reaching €126 billion in 2024. Whether or not the country will be able to handle more, remains to be seen.
On 5 April, with the Easter holiday in view, Spaniards once again took to the streets to show their discontent. Across 40 cities, tens or even hundreds of thousands of residents – depending on the source – marched against mass tourism.
🏠 Spain’s Housing Crisis Sparks Protests
— Rapid Reveal (@rapid_reveal) April 7, 2025
Tens of thousands marched in 40+ cities demanding affordable housing
House prices rose 44% in last decade, while wages rose only 19%#SpainHousingCrisis #SpainProtest #Spain #diamundialdelasalud #FelizLunes #Ruscar6A #vecinos6a pic.twitter.com/pARUBrT3qL
According to data from the real eastate Idealista, property prices have increased by 44 per cent over the last decade, leaving many locals unable to step on the property ladder. Moreover, ever more long-term rentals for residents are being replaced by short-term rentals for tourists, making it even more difficult for Spaniards to find housing. Protesters in Madrid, where 150,000 people took to the streets according to the local tenants’ union, were heard chanting “No matter who governs, we must defend housing rights”.
Tens of thousands of protesters filled the streets of 40 cities across Spain to speak out against housing prices. pic.twitter.com/05Gw1k6NZD
— DW News (@dwnews) April 7, 2025
What will the future bring?
Spain’s current centre-left government is faced with the difficult task of attracting tourists and migrants, while also ensuring affordable housing for its people. While some measures were taken – such as a planned 100 per cent tax on properties bought by non-EU residents and the plan to rid Barcelona of tourist flat licenses by 2028 – Spaniards aren’t satisfied with those.
The numbers reflect that lack of action. According to the Bank of Spain, the country is currently handling a 500,000 homes deficit, while 33.8 per cent of residents in the Canary Islands are at risk of poverty or social exclusion, according to Spain’s National Statistics Institute.
In May, 15 activist groups from Spain, Portugal, Italy, and France will be attending a summit in Barcelona in order to coordinate their efforts to counter unsustainable tourism. Mallorca-based Menys Turisme, Més Vida (Less Tourism, More Life) has already announced it will be redoubling its efforts during the Summer months.
