You got that right! Phoenix rents are so high. I don't consider PHX a major tourist destination. Yes, we do have tourists, but it isn't like a Rome, a London, a Barcelona. The city has built a lot of apartment housing but it hasn't really helped.
Not just cities I live in the south of Spain in a small town. There are zero affordable rentals available for local people. Everything is an Airbnb. It’s a huge problem and I’m not surprised this is happening
The abuse of charges in airbnb it’s incredible. They blamed the tourists instead they should blame the government for not having any regulations and that’s increasing regular rents. Not fear for citizens and neither to tourists
+the ocupados problem. Lots of properties all over the country are just staying locked up, because owners are not protected by law against non payers. Once someone stops paying you rent, it’s nearly impossible to get them out, thus many prefer not to rent out. Or if the do - they do it through the various platforms to stay somewhat safe.
@@marakyiya I'm familiar with the okupas and the legal system protecting them. However, I believe that the basic problem comes from massive foreign real estate speculation and nonregulation of who is actually allowed to buy ground (with or without buildings on it). One example: there are plenty of streets in Barcelona's Raval neighborhood that have been purchased by foreign investors. Instead of modernizing/renovating these very old, often decrepit buildings with their small apartments, these companies prefer not to move a finger in the hope of everyone moving out. There have been cases of people dying, falling down broken stairs with no lighting, or people getting very sick from mold, but the penalty fines are apparently so low that paying them is much cheaper than repairing stairs or getting rid of humidity, which translates to 'money is more important that the renters' wellbeing'. Once everyone has more or less voluntarily moved away, the building will be taken down (except for the façade), rebuilt, equipped with decent technology and then rented out - to executives, expats, tourists. That living space is lost forever because very few locals can afford rents of 1.500 Euro and up.
I was really looking forward to my trip to Barcelona/Madrid/San Sebastian in September, but after reading about the protests I’m really discouraged and considering cancelling. Not because I would feel unsafe, more so because I find it hard to justify spending hard earned dollars in a country that doesn’t want me.
I can tell you from experience that locals in Madrid and San Sebastián are super welcoming to tourists. You might see anti-tourist graffiti but that’s it. Barcelona has long had an over-tourism problem but I’m shocked that people would be this hostile to real tourists-especially considering that the city government is actually moving to mitigate the problems. If anything I would skip the Barcelona leg of your trip. There are lots of wonderful alternatives.
I am literally in Barcelona right now and vacation. Both my wife and I were nervous about seeing the protests a few days ago before we came. But every person we’ve spoke to said it’s not really a thing here and it doesn’t affect anything. It’s just the news blowing out of proportion . Everyone has been super friendly and kind and helpful. It is the double edged sword. Tourist spending a lot of money here, but a lot of them are disrespectful and with people buying Airbnb and living here or renting here it increases the price for normal people just trying to get by now a lot of places in the world normal people can’t afford their bills and put food on the table.
I’m currently here & haven’t experienced this or the pickpockets.., I kept looking out for those pickpockets on the metro, but honestly we haven’t seen it.
@@MichaelDangerDobbsI agree with you. I’m here and haven’t seen it or heard any of this either. I agree with the previous person who posted saying it’s more of an immigration problem not the tourists.
I've been waiting for your take. As another expat who has lived in Europe 25 years and the last two in Barcelona, I've witnessed the behaviours that are frustrating locals. As a tourism professional, I have been alarmed at the effects of AirBnBs and huge groups of tourists and sympathize with the anger, even while I strongly disagree with protesters assaulting tourists with their water pistols. It is not the fault of the unsuspecting tourist, it's the local government, businesses and property owners not sharing the wealth of tourism. With that said, tourists are just an easy target for anger at social issues that have nothing at all to do with tourists, but crime and the natural evolution of economies, but most of all the imbalance of the government's lack of controls on tourist business. There definitely needs to be broader discussions (and maybe even some initiatives to help local people learn how to capitalize on the industry). I am really glad to hear you share the tips I have been telling my clients for years: travel off-season, try to choose local businesses to support vs. conglomerates that take the profits elsewhere, be courteous to locals and be mindful of noise when out at night.
Totally agree some of the things Ive seen are totally disgusting normally drink related it's not over run with tourists to me it's the quietist I ever seen it so I don't understand what over run is meaning because I've been here 7 years and as city goes it's been quiet it's the problem of people not having respect zero these people need to change or stay away simple 💪🐸✌️
I was in Barcelona in June. There are a lot of "trash tourism" in Barcelona. These people only visit Barcelona to drink and make noise. It's sad but real...
My family just returned home from 38 days in Europe and we were in Barcelona for 3 nights two weeks ago and booked our tours/sites for early morning with the exception of Park Guell which was not very crowded. We stayed just near the Gothic Quarter and didn't notice too many crowds there or along the beaches. I think we were lucky. Florence and Rome were very busy and Lisbon and Porto were somewhat crowded in the touristy areas. This seems to be a double edged sword in that businesses rely on tourism but it impacts local lives. I hope a balance can be found to please everyone.
@@xTremeSequences The crux usually is that the money brought in by tourism doesn't end up in local, original businesses but in large international corporation who will then invest their revenue elsewhere.
We just got back from visiting Barcelona in mid June. It was beautiful, but very crowded. I can’t imagine how much worse it is in July and August! This is a world wide problem though, not just a Barcelona problem. You see the same over crowding and lack of affordable housing in every major city.
I would never travel to a tourist destination in peak season. I went to Barcelona at the end of January for my birthday last year. It wasn't perfect weather, but still much better than the Midwest in the winter.
Planning on going to Spain next year for 2 weeks, from North to South, but with recent events, my family and I are reconsidering our plans. To protest is one thing, but to squirt water on tourists’ faces and harass them is quite another. I wouldn’t want to spend my hard earned money in a place where I’m not welcomed.
Unfortunately this is a global issue. I will not visit Barcelona to do my part in helping local people realize their energy needs to become more focused on policy than people.
Stop going to disgusting far left Barcelona and instead go to wonderful freedom hub Madrid. Believe me, Madrid is waaaay better than repulsive barcelona
@@granados6021 it's sad, because it's not reality. I live in BCN and there are so much worse problems. Tourism is not a problem. How can they complain about it? When the problems are so much worse? Unbelievable.
Patrick, thank you, you for talking about this. It is an issue world wide. We live in Southern Utah, USA and have the same problem with the greatly increased number of tourists visiting the National Parks. We are planning visit to Barcelona in October when it is a little cooler and fewer tourists.
The problem I personally see is that, a city is built to house people for either commerce or industry. It comes alive with business (in any form). So if there was industry and the city protested it and shut it down, the city would too die off eventually (like Detroit). So for Barcelona historicly it has been commerce. And now tourism. The jobs are due to tourism. The rising housing prices (which means increased wealth for their owners) is due to tourism and the commerce it brings. So the protest is actually about “not getting an equal share” as all protests are usually is.
I´m coming to Barcelona 2-3 times per year since 1999 - for the last 15 years it´s no fun in the spring and summer month´s. I totaly unstand the local´s, when even for me as a tourist it´s too crowded. For the last 12 Years I´m come from Nov - Feb to the city and have the best Time
Me and the wife just got back from our trip to Barcelona and Mallorca last week. We had an amazing time and everyone was super friendly to us had absolutely no issues. I can see why it’s frustrating because there were ALOT of tourists including us 🤣.
were the locals rude to you for speaking english? i’m pretty worried about my honeymoon being ruined, we’ve had it booked for a year and it’s non refundable 😔
Great video 👍 I used to work in Edinburgh and during the summer months it was almost impossible to easily move through the city due to the sheer number of tourists, with car parking costing double during August. However, tourism is a big employer and a major driver of the local economy, so there is a balance to be struck.
@@gmm5550 Yup. And that may have to do with over-affordability of lowest-cost carriers. If your ticket is cheaper than a mid- distance bus ride, why bother with the culture, language, customs. How can a flight be cheaper than some designer knock-off from Shein?
@@ireneinbarcelona its always been been pretty cheap to fly to spain for Europeans Even in the 1980 ties and back then spain greece portugal italy was a a really cheap destinations ..think its more people that changed..lacking respect and common sense.
Yeah these areas have almost become theme parks in the eyes of many tourists. It makes life so hard for those actually living there. I live in tourist destination and just carrying out everyday tasks in the summer can become challenging as everyone battles for space and services. Where I live is not even a peak attraction it's secondary to other areas that just get absolutely rammed with visitors.
@@jeanettemullins i lived and worked here in Bangkok +15 years now..I do se the same trend.. tourists gets less respectful more uneducated can't behave and thai media and people is getting tired of it too..
I will be in Barcelona in August, and there's no way i'm canceling my trip. I am always respectful towards the countries i visit, so, it;s not gonna be any different this time. I booked a hotel, in the Eixample area. I honestly feel the locals on this subject, but they should take it on their government, not the tourists. Tourists are the easy target, and without them, Barcelona will only lose. Airbnb and similar platforms are mostly owned by locals, just as tourist agencies bringing tourists in. So, they should figure the solution out, between them. As long as someone is paying money and supports the city's economy, they should be respected. Those who earn a fortune from tourism but won't share it with the local community, should be forced to do so. The tourists are doing nothing wrong. Its nobody's fault Barcelona is one of the best and most beautiful places to visit.
Walking through Eixample is a little bit of a pain. You have to walk down the perpendicular street a little bit to get to the crosswalk. Passeig de Gracia is the street where a lot of action is. You'll love it there. Catalan is different from Spanish and sadly August is the hottest month from what I've heard.
You are more than welcome ❤....the majority are not like those rude protesters at all. I used to be a tourist guide here as a volunteer, architecture, history, beach, close to France. I have met amazing visitors!! Such lovely people❤ I am a traveller myself, been in Airbnbs, travelled all over France, cozy hotels...Don't continue talking about this topic because it's not real!! Most city loves tourists, mean it❤
I live in very touristic city in another part of Europe. We have the same problem with affordable housing and too much short term rentals - it really affects social life for locals. I'm sometimes a tourist also, like we all (never been in Barcelona though) and I can see why people use airbnb. I'm always using hotels, hates airbnb, but when I started to travel with bigger group than 3 people, I found that privately owned flats are sometimes only reasonalble option. And not because of the price but because of comfort. Hotels rarely have family rooms. Especially bigger ones; and they always say that they can't assure me that if we rent two or three rooms - they will be next to each other (I travel with teenagers, I won't leave them unattended and we want to be together). I think it's rarely spoken of when we discuss overtourism.
Thank you for the video, we just stayed a week in Barcelona and had left before the protest, when we heard the news we were very sad. Hope we can all work something out where the locals will be better off too!
My last trip to Barcelona, since I had a car with plates from Portugal, I decided to stay in Badalona and just take the metro into Barcelona, rather than risking my windows being busted out in the 24 hour parking garages, even the ones with an 24 hr attendant since many non Spanish cars are frequently broken into as part a Barcelona's welcoming gesture to tourists or outsiders....
I visited Barcelona last june and watched many of your videos before I went. I was not expecting it but I did find “tourists go come” splattered on walls and in little notes on the floor when I visited La Barceloneta. On the night of san juan, I met a few people in the hostel I was staying at and we went to the beach to see the fireworks. Even though I speak spanish, we were talking in english as a common language and boy, I felt we were being treated VERY differently by the locals on the street. We were yelled at multiple times 😂😂😂 But overall my experience was very positive and I understand the struggle of local folk.
Also, I was very shocked to hear about the drought when I got to Spain. As soon as the train crossed the border from France, the riverbeds were totally empty and the hostel where I stayed at had several water saving measures in place.
The Spanish are very finicky ppl 😂. I have been in Spain now 2.5 months between last summer and this summer and as a Mexican/American tourist….i can tell I’m not really wanted by the locals….although I have met some nice locals….they are unfortunately not my typical encounter. I have traveled all over Spain and have been told I’ve probably seen more of Spain than many Spanish, but I have always been respectful where I go, and it’s not always reciprocated, but I do understand they feel they are being overrun by tourists and the animosity that comes with that.
According to Google the biggest group of tourists in Barcelona are the Spanish. I live in the Netherlands and Amsterdam has the same problem. The biggest group of day tourists in Amsterdam are the Dutch. Just don’t blame foreigners.
I’m glad that when I visited Amsterdam it was at a local friend’s home, and I enjoyed the city much off the beaten path than at the designed tourist areas. My friend is opposed to measures the city wants to take, like moving the Red Light district of the city center. He says that Amsterdam is what it is today because they have been welcoming visitors, merchants and sailors since Amsterdam was little but a swamp.
Just got back from Spain yesterday and spent our last day in Barcelona, it was by far the worst part of our trip. The overcrowding in the touristy areas was a real problem. All of the other areas of Spain we visited were amazing and beautiful. The people and food were amazing. Highly recommend visiting this beautiful country, just stay away from the touristy cities.
My family of four visited Barcelona for a week. Just got back a couple days ago. Mid-September wasn't that crowded. We went to Montjuic on a Saturday morning and had the Castle mostly to ourselves. We also arrived fairly early at Montserrat and it wasn't very crowded. Maybe it would have been later in the day. We were welcomed at various restaurants all week. The tour guides and hotel employees were wonderful. The employee in the Metro station saw us fumbling around and came out and helped us buy the right pass. We live in the DC metro area and I can tell you I've never had that good of service in our transit stations. The weather was spectacular. It's kind of amazing how much the city has to see and do. Take one of the bicicle tours early in your trip. Thanks for the video.
I was there in May 2024 Barcelona and there were no protesters but last yr 2023 May there was some.. I love Barcelona and sorry that tourism has hurt the economy..tourism should help and drive the economy ..hope it gets better as I love ❤️ this beautiful City..
I went to Barcelona last year, your videos were so helpful. It's a great city and I'm glad the people are standing up and the country is doing something about it. (Here in the US the housing market is horrible- nothing is being done) I was very respectful, stayed in a hotel, went to small restaurants, and took public transportation quietly like a local. I do plan on going back, but you make such valid points. People need to respect the city and people that live there. 🙏
If you own a restaurant or hotel maybe. There's thousands of people leaving the city. Which means, prices are not only skyrocketing in Barcelona, but, well up to 50.km away from it. That does not justify a few thousand very low quality jobs
Not quite the same issue in San Francisco - it’s already very expensive for locals to live there, and the tourist “business zones” (looking at you: fisherman’s wharf, Pier 39) are avoided by locals anyway for the tourist traps that they function as.
In New York City we have our tourist zones too. It was when my non-touristy neighborhood got “invaded” that I knew city officials had to do something. A company bought half the apartments in my building for short term rentals and at some point I couldn’t recognize anyone coming in and out. Needless to say, when my lease ended, they increased my rent triple of what I was paying and had to move.
I visited in May this year. Stayed in a hostel. And it was absolutely crowded in Las Ramblas, Boqueria market etc. But I went early morning to the Gothic Quarter etc and it was absolutely lovely without any crowds. Hope the locals get a good deal from the government regarding housing
Hi Patrick...We need a cap on AirBNB in Barcelona! The locals are suffering and not able to rent long term because of this! I blame it on the corrupt local government. Thanks for sharing❤ from Barcelona 🇪🇦
We were in Barcelona in May, for 2 weeks, and had no issues whatsoever. Everyone was very friendly. We loved Barcelona. We stayed away from La Rambla. We went once, but there's really nothing there we were interested in, and it was very crowded. But if you get away from La Rambla, Barcelona is very nice to walk around in. The part we enjoyed most was Passieg de Gracia and Rambla de Catalunya.
first of all, big congratulations to you Patrick for everything you do when it comes to Barcelona... professional and simple, useful and free, serious and yet witty... compliments... 30 years Barcelona is a part of my life and apart from the era "corona" I'm usually here once a year... all the problems of Barcelona have only one root cause, which is the incompetent city authorities who only react to the consequences, and then it's always hasty and bad... my hometown Split (Croatia) is living the same fate, which is ten times smaller in number than Barcelona, but proportionally the same percentage of tourists pass through it... the old part of the city died, because people moved out, they turned their flats into apartments and restaurants, and the city died, all thanks to incompetent city officials, authorities who were elected and paid to prevent this from happening... the domestic people are protesting but mostly those who did not grab part of the tourist money... the ban on private apartments (Barcelona) will result in a black market that will only make things worse... the solution lies in the construction of new flats outside the center which will be offered to the local population at an acceptable price on the condition that they will not be turned into apartments, the city center must be protected by booking appointments for visits, cruisers should be limited as much as possible... in essence, all this can only be solved having in mind the "Peter principle" which teaches us that the administration encourages incompetents at the top of the hierarchy and then we have what we have... best regards...
I guess this is a global issue. When planning our trips (from home in Eastern Belgium) my wife and I now avoid overly touristic places, and generally cities, as much as we can. Also, to be honest, now that our children are young adults, we appreciate being able to travel off season, which helps avoiding the crowds.
This is a public policy issue in Barcelona (and in other major tourist areas in different countries). Local governments need to take notice and pursue policy solutions balancing both tourism and the needs of local populations. For example, one potential solution might be to limit the number of AirBNB-style rentals per square kilometer. Bringing together local populations, government, and other stakeholders to come up with policy solutions tailored to each area is really the best way to address over-tourism.
As a Spaniard, let me tell you something: WELCOME TO SPAIN AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR VISIT! This does not represent the Spanish people. It is just a few individuals who were influenced by the government, which, by blaming tourists, is shirking its responsibility for the problem, for which only the government is responsible. Do not be afraid to come to Spain because we will welcome you with open arms.
@@j.evangelista3577 I'm sorry, but I don't talk to those kinds of people. I make an effort every day to stay as far away from them as possible. For those of us who are not tourists, they are just as toxic.
@@UnusSedLeo-w5l You will notice it if you travel to Spain. We Spaniards are noble and welcoming people. Certainly, Barcelona is becoming a dangerous city, though for other reasons, more than because of those few people brainwashed by the government.
I have been there 5 times since 2015 and really just be a good person and don’t be rude and a typical obnoxious tourist and you’re gonna be fine. I think the people that live in the city. The sense that I get is, they don’t mind tourism just don’t destroy your culture and the way of life.
@@Lightdog555 this is a great comment and agree. The hardest part of this issue could just be the sheer amount of tourism where the city becomes overwhelmed by it. I have zero clue and don’t know of any way for how to find a balance. On one end tourism is great for a city but too much causes problems. You don’t want tourism to go away you just don’t want it to stress the people, governments, and resources.
We love Spain and strive to be respectful and kind. We try to stay in areas where locals live and experience life in the barrios so we can absorb the culture. We have met the most wonderful and amazing people. It always makes us cringe when there are other fellow tourists who are loud and disrespectful. We are guests and need to respect them and their culture.😢
Thank you! I'm going to Spain in October and used only hotels instead of AirBNB. I'm going to see Malaga, Sevilla, and finally, Madrid which I decided on because I wasn't seeing as much protests.
I moved to BCN at the tail end of the pandemic. I had a cheap room, but then the owner told me to move when tourism started to pick up again. No doubt to Airbnb the place. My second room was perfect, then after 2 months everyone was moved out by the building owner, it’s on Airbnb now. Since this happened twice to me in 4 / 5 month, I assume a lot of locals are having the same issue.
A "developed country" like Spain can get away with such actions with minimum backlash but imagine if locals in a developing country where tourism is a major source of revenue were to do what people in Spain just did, the amount of backlash and negative coverage they would get would be huge.
Airbnb and Vrbo definitely have their down sides, but it makes me sad to see a total ban. When I travel to another country, I want to experience it like a local and I don't feel I can do that in a hotel. Staying in an apartment means you get to shop at a local grocery store for your meals. It means you can go to the local bar on the corner in the evenings for a drink. It means you can interact with local people in a more meaningful way. Wherever you choose to travel, please be respectful of the people living there that have to put up with "us tourists" in their daily lives. If you travel solo, hire local guides (yes, Patrick is a local, and he is fabulous! We hired him in May of this year). Also, if touring in a group is your thing, consider going with a tour company that takes you to local restaurants and puts you up in locally run hotels. Travel isn't just about seeing the sights. Talk to the people who live there. Find out what their lives are like and what concerns them. Don't cancel your trip. Go and learn.
Where do Spaniards go on holidays. Do they travel within Spain or outside. In the US most of Americans travel within the USA during the summer. I noticed that there were many Europeans in Barcelona. I heard that Barcelona is a very popular bachelor and bachelorette destination for European, is this true?
We have several options: 1. Travel inside Spain. It's cheaper and we know the good places that aren't full of foreigners. 2. Travel to other souther European countries. Go to Italy or Portugal and speak Spanish hoping to be understood (it'll be more useful than trying english anyway). 3. Northern Europe. The experience often includes complaining about the sh*tty weather, complaining about the sh*tty food and complaining about how everything is so expensive. But the architecture!!! (Or something). The most adventurous might try Eastern Europe, and rich people might go somewhere else outside of Europe, but for most people those are the options.
One final point Patrick, pure respect is to treat a person the way they want to be treated not how you would want to be treated we are all different so something that would not offend you might offend somebody else.
@@MyAccountForCommenting if you think needing to be a mind reader is a prerequisite to knowing what is offensive or not then in your case probably, you have surely heard people say things like it would not bother me if i was called something, so does that mean its ok to call someone else that because you would not be offended, that is not mind reading it is common sense.
@kevindodds5441 Your advice means it's not ok to say offensive things to people who might be offended. Your advice also means it's ok to say offensive things to people who won't be offended. You don't know who is who. You don't know how each individual person you encounter thinks. You're not a mind reader.
@@MyAccountForCommenting its not my advice and its never ok to say offensive things to people, the true meaning is just to be mindful of the fact that what does not offend on person my offend another so choose your words carefully.
Hi Patrick, my family and I just returned from a 3-weeks' trip in Italy and Spain. Barcelona was awesome, and I remember seeing the protest in the city centre, though it was pacific. Overall, Barcelona is a great city to live in, and people are friendly. Today, as it stands, Barcelona is a much better city than Milan for example: people are friendlier, food price is much cheaper, less pickpockets and local transportation is much more affordable. I definitely agree with you that overturism in a city of 1.7 million may be an issue. If I were the local authorities, I'd seriously think of setting local quotasfor tourists in the summer months on a first come, first served basis. Local people do suffer from "touristy" prices, but as you rightly said tourism in Barcelona amounts to 14% of the local GDP. It's a double-edged sword. In the end, the situation in Barcelona isn't so dramatic and I'd rather live in Barcelona than Milan anytime. Great video!
It's an amazing video analysis on that situation. A pity, unfair for locals and tourists as well while a few are taking their slice without taking care at all. Thanks Patrick for doing such a great and polite analysis, not easy.
Not every one. tourism only makes money for the small business trinkets/ restaurants/ hotel and how does that help their economy, when the money goes to stock market owned business or corporate owned business. I live in BC and since expo 86, i have not been able to go to whistler, since tourism.... so don't give two rips if whistler exist or not. It now for tourist and not for locals any more. so yeah ...i don't like tourism. we never needed it and now look what happen because of it. It not afford able for locals
@@gottasay1157 But this is something you guys have to complain to the top people about. The answer is not unwelcoming tourists, sorry! That's what your governors want-- to throw people against each other while they do nothing to solve the issue, see? If this escalates, there will be NO tourism in Europe anymore! Because if you can't welcome us, the rest of Europe won't welcome you, the Spanish and its residents. Enough with this! I love Spain, especially Barcelona! It's the only way I have to practise my Spanish and absorb its culture while I feel mesmerized by the beauty of the city. I love Gaudi's art so much that I cried when I first visited Casa Batló and especially Casa Mila, la Pedrera. I want to return because I haven't seen Sagrada Familia inside. I don't want to feel unwelcome and unsafe there. We do not go to touristic restaurants. My husband and I use local businesses. We praise the culture. Leave us alone! Fight the top dogs, not us!
Thanks Patrick for this video. My mum and I visit Barcelona a few times a year. It's our second home. Please people, don't cancel you trip, because of the one sided video's you might have seen about the protests. As long as you respect the locals, they will make you feel welcome. And just like Patrick says, explore other beautiful surroundings of Barcelona. Go to Gaudi's Crypta Guëll or Torre Bellesguard for instance. Go visit some beautiful parcs, like Parc del Guinardó or Parc del Turó del Putxet, where you have some breathtaking views. Las Ramblas is ok, but Barcelona has a lot more to offer than this crowded street.
I was about to book a trip to Barcelona/madrid for my family for the first time. I’ve been watching your videos to prepare myself for my trip…then I found this one…thank you for telling me about what is going on so I will not go on a trip there. I live in Boston which has the second highest rent to the us (Hawaii is number one). I would never blame tourists for the rent being unaffordable. Thank you
We have the same issue in Italy, you cannot rent anymore because everything is an Air bnb now and super expensive. IT's not a Barcelona situation it's everywhere in Europe, because there are loophole that politicians do not care about. So take it to your mayor not to the visitors, they only make you richer. But it's true inflation is killing the future. I am Italian living in Australia and got more opportunities here than in my hometown. But I will be visiting Barcelona very soon for two weels. I love that city, I would like to live there.
I have been living in Barcelona for14 years also, I think this is a one of incident and this video is really sensationalising and scare mongering. pick pockets yes ,be careful!! but the locals attacking the tourists this is the first incident I have heard of.
I'm one of these people who had to leave Barcelona years ago and find another place to live because of house prices and the lack of jobs not related to tourism. I feel sad watching what this city has become. I dislike the way my local fellows protested against tourists but the whole situation it's not fair. I can't afford to come back to my family and friends.
I was in Barcelona, Madrid, Granada, and Malaga in March. Madrid was more crowded than Barcelona. Then we went to Porto and Lisbon. They were way more crowded than Spain. I suggest off season and planning tourist spots first thing in the AM and arrive early.
In my opinion tourism makes every country progressive and Spain have lots of food business like restaurants, groceries and etc. and most of the people live from tourists. What will happen with the businesses establishments there? How can they pay their workers? Most (local) people there will have no more job. Thanks for sharing your video.
I need to travel there soon because of work- and I feel a bit discouraged… I believe this is a worldwide phenomenon and sadly the ones to hold accountable for this gentrification caused mainly by digital nomads, are the wealthy owners of entire buildings or realtors, etc… who have more than one property and the governments not regulating the side effects of the modern exodus.
There are so many empty houses in BCN and the vast majority of these homes are owned by locals as second and third homes not rented to tourist or other locals!
I trust people will not just say “Alright, will not go to Bercelona. Will just go to say, Valencia or Madrid”. I hope they say “ will not go to Spain. Period. Many other places and countries where you can spend your money.
The issue is not enough housing is being built (due to cost saving) and has been an increasing issue for decades worldwide. I'm in London and we have the same issue but acknowledge its lack of building. Cities expand. It's how they became cities in the first place. Tourism is just being used as a scape goat. My (Spanish) ex lives in Guadalest, Alicante. It's a mountain village of around 200 people and receives over 2 million visitors a year without issue. They work hard to attract tourists. With these (now violent) protests (and the ones in Alicante last weekend) staged by people who misunderstand the problem my ex and her business partner are now worried for the future of their business. The world just needs to put the financial crash behind it and build houses again.
It’s the same problem here in Vancouver. Locals blame tourists and foreigners for being real estate in prime areas. With a very average salary, you’re not qualifying to buy those properties anyway. I fear Barcelona and Venice will end up with the same fate. If you push out locals and small businesses, replace them with American chains and souvenir shops, then you have eliminated the very character that people visited you for in the first place.
my father and uncle were born in Barcelona, to me, it’s the greatest city, my wife and I were there in April and all of our experiences were above and beyond, we both have or had worked in some type of industry that caters to tourism and we have always tipped, yes I know it’s not customary there but it should be, this would help in those who give you great service a chance to have a better life, those who just pay are not helping to change their outcome, I would enjoy a chance to talk to you personally, thank you for all your videos.
Great video. Barcelona is such an amazing place. We visit every year and have made some good friends in the city. I 100% agree that you should spend your money with local businesses. Why go to Starbucks when the city has so many great coffee spots! Not to mention amazing locally owned restaurants. My other tip would be just to walk and walk some more. So many amazing squares and parks to see. We have been to all the main “attractions” after so many years visiting. We come back because we love the city and the people. If you’re visiting Barcelona, please, just be respectful and you will have an amazing time!
I've been living in BCN for 14 years as well, work in tourism, and I've seen so much change since I moved... When I was trying to buy a house, right about that time they were not allowing more touristic licenses, most of the flipped picture perfect houses originally meant to be for Airbnb or touristflats, didn't even have a connection for a washing machine, inimini kitchens (more for show than anything else), and still, the prices have only gone up. To stop the prices from going up further, BCN has been divided into parts in which rents are controlled by the government, to make sure people are not taking advantage of their people, however there's always loopholes. I couldn't be more happy with the elimination of licenses by 2025. It was turning into Paris, where locals do not live in the city, but in the outskirts. The concentrations of tourism in certain parts of the city make them more susceptible to robberies too, and an incredible rise of homeless, drawn to the city in hopes of a better life and simpathy from tourists, only to find that they are also not welcome as they are not good for the image. OH PLEASE PEOPLE KEEP YOUR SHIRT ON...!! We know it's hot, but keep your clothes on... You just gotta treat the place you're at as if it were your home, respect is EVERYTHING
My wife and I are visiting Barcelona in early October. We were concerned after we saw the protests a few weeks ago. Your video has allayed some of our concerns. A lot of what you advise is common sense and decency. Treat the locals (and everyone you encounter) with dignity and respect. We always welcome visitors who come to my home town in Austin, Texas. I'm hopeful we will be welcomed and treated well when we visit Barcelona.
Thank you for making this video. I have plans to be in Barcelona in September, mostly doing a horse riding tour but unfortunately I will be there during the America's cup time frame. I was thinking of canceling but now I think it will be okay. I am on the local. I am in a hotel and I do sympathize with the reasons why they are having these protests. I hope this helps everyone
Stop talking about this. Its a minority of people. Locals lo ve tourists❤ The architecture, history, beach, close to France. I am traveller myself, and been a tourist guide in Barcelona and loved it. Met lovely people❤️ Stay safe from pickpockets ❤️
I was in Barcelona that weekend. I was in tourist areas but not the protest area. For what it's worth, I didn't even know about the protests until I saw it in the news when I got home. Everyone in the restaurants and the workers in the major sites were all very nice and positive.
Same here..didn't even notice in my area..had fab time,everyone super polite in hotels, restaurants, museums, stores...in terms of turism no dif then Athena, Venice, Rome etc..wherever is nice it is crowded..it is given..places where u can see amazing architecture, nature, museums etc. By default will be crowded
@@MrCanalon There are plenty of paid workers in the US who are outright rude. The Lost Leblanc video on Barcelona said the wait staff in the places he went treated it like a favor to do basic services, which is the stereotype Americans have of Europeans.
In Mexican tourist cities like Cancun, Los Cabos, Nayarit, Oaxaca or Mexico City we are used to tourism, we have never attacked anyone who decides to visit us and everyone returns to their countries happy, I attribute it to a problem of idiosyncrasy, the average Spaniard is not very friendly, polite nor hospitable (I didn't have a very good time in Madrid).
"Catalunya is Not Spain" -- or so the graffiti says. So, to say the "average Spaniard" while referring to Barcelona fails to recognize the vast regional differences in attitude. It also suggests you've only been to the touristy parts of Spain where over-tourism has brought disdain for tourists for decades. Up here on the Cantabrian coast, I've been welcomed as first a tourist and now a citizen immigrant. I'm pretty sure you aren't counting Green Spain in your "average." Catalunya is feudal and corrupt. That's why the monied few are whipping the working classes into a frenzy of linguistic intolerance and nationalism. The monied few know they will be free from the oversight of Spanish national law -- and if anyone thinks that will help the workers of Catalunya live better, they're huffing paint. I support the idea of NATIONAL independence referendum, so we can ALL vote for Catalunya to CEXIT and be done with their delusions of superiority and their petty tribalism. Don't let the door hit you as you exit the EU too...
I didn’t enjoy Madrid as much as Barcelona for that reason…the ppl & I agree with your statement about Spanish hospitality….having traveled all over Spain, some cities are definitely better about it than others.
I feel for these people because these are universal issues in almost every western city and Barcelona is a beautiful place but these protests are ridiculous. They were harassing and assaulting tourists instead of the politicians that caused the problems in the first place.
We love Barcelona and have traveled to the city many times. I always have found it to be a beautiful and friendly city. Usually we stay in the city for 5-7 days before we cruise to other destinations and usually travel there in the fall. I can understand residents right to protest but to attack innocent people is not acceptable. So don’t defend them.
Thank you very much for the update on the protesting. We are visiting Barcelona in September and will unfortunately only be there for one full day. Your videos and feedback have been very helpful in our planning.
One could see the locals viewpoint and sympathize with them. However, they should be careful what they wish for. If they're that intent on driving tourists away, give them what they want. As for the aftermath? Well, that would be on them.
I get why people are protesting, especially with issues like housing that many cities face. The cost of living crisis is everywhere. In London, most people can't afford to buy properties until later in life. Rome has similar problems too, and if you think Europe has it bad, imagine other places in the world that have nothing right now. Every European city deals with a lot of tourists. London gets around 21 million a year, and Barcelona gets about 9 million. Instead of targeting tourists, measures should be taken to prioritize the housing situation. The Airbnb reduction is a good start, but there needs to be a better plan. It's important to be respectful whenever and wherever you travel. I was considering Barcelona, but I'm having second thoughts. I've seen so many videos about pickpocketing and now protests. It's a shame because my friends always mention the architecture, cuisine and culture. I hope this situation gets better everywhere!
Why don't they just nationalize tourism. Make it the patrimony of the state to benefit its own citizens. So instead of money bring bootlegged to international conglomerates it'll be locals that get a direct financial benefit from all that foot traffic.
As an individual/couple/family the protestors have no idea whether you're part of the problem or whether you're already sensitive to their issues. In places like Venice, the locals were fed up with cruise ships docking, hundreds of passengers streaming off and contributing very little to the local economy. All their eating/drinking would take place on board and the local restaurants would see little benefit. I've stayed in Barcelona twice, once in a hotel with my wife and once in a large apartment in a dodgy graffiti-ridden side street behind La Rambla (Carrer de Guardia) con mis hermanos y sus hijos. We ate local, shopped local, used buses, the metro and cable car. I visited the police station after being mugged. I spotted a shoplifter in El Corte Ingles and alerted the staff. We travelled to Montserrat to give thanks. No-one would know anything about us other than we would be seen as 'guiri' The protests should not be about tourism. As the capital of the region, Barcelona can cope with and thrive off tourism. As can Las Islas Baleares In a market economy, an apartment owner is going to rent to the highest bidder and in this way it is no different to many major cities in failing to ensure that the people who work in the shops, bars, restaurants will have somewhere to live. The realisation will eventually dawn on them that many young people will need to live on the fringes and commute rather than having a 'right' to live in the centre in future.
And the easiest one is stopping cruise ships. Passengers already paid for food and room on the ship. They spend less than the average tourist. Why are they allowed to dump thousands of people who don’t even spend much while on land?
I’m still looking forward to my trip later this year. I try not to add to the problem anywhere I go. As much as possible I try to support local businesses and be respectful of the locales. It also tends to be a better experience anyway.
Sadly, the housing unaffordability is a worldwide phenomenon in big cities.
True and a most of it is created by gov't and the people who say, don't build that in my neighborhood.
Is it, tourists? Immigration? Property investors for tourism? All of the above?
As always, profiteers ruin things for everyone else.
You got that right! Phoenix rents are so high. I don't consider PHX a major tourist destination. Yes, we do have tourists, but it isn't like a Rome, a London, a Barcelona. The city has built a lot of apartment housing but it hasn't really helped.
The WEF plan at work
Not just cities I live in the south of Spain in a small town. There are zero affordable rentals available for local people. Everything is an Airbnb. It’s a huge problem and I’m not surprised this is happening
The abuse of charges in airbnb it’s incredible. They blamed the tourists instead they should blame the government for not having any regulations and that’s increasing regular rents. Not fear for citizens and neither to tourists
+the ocupados problem. Lots of properties all over the country are just staying locked up, because owners are not protected by law against non payers. Once someone stops paying you rent, it’s nearly impossible to get them out, thus many prefer not to rent out. Or if the do - they do it through the various platforms to stay somewhat safe.
As someone who lives in Barcelona I can tell you we blame both
EXACTLY!!! 👏👏👏
@@marakyiya I'm familiar with the okupas and the legal system protecting them. However, I believe that the basic problem comes from massive foreign real estate speculation and nonregulation of who is actually allowed to buy ground (with or without buildings on it). One example: there are plenty of streets in Barcelona's Raval neighborhood that have been purchased by foreign investors. Instead of modernizing/renovating these very old, often decrepit buildings with their small apartments, these companies prefer not to move a finger in the hope of everyone moving out. There have been cases of people dying, falling down broken stairs with no lighting, or people getting very sick from mold, but the penalty fines are apparently so low that paying them is much cheaper than repairing stairs or getting rid of humidity, which translates to 'money is more important that the renters' wellbeing'. Once everyone has more or less voluntarily moved away, the building will be taken down (except for the façade), rebuilt, equipped with decent technology and then rented out - to executives, expats, tourists. That living space is lost forever because very few locals can afford rents of 1.500 Euro and up.
how do tourist make food price go up ?
I was really looking forward to my trip to Barcelona/Madrid/San Sebastian in September, but after reading about the protests I’m really discouraged and considering cancelling. Not because I would feel unsafe, more so because I find it hard to justify spending hard earned dollars in a country that doesn’t want me.
I can tell you from experience that locals in Madrid and San Sebastián are super welcoming to tourists. You might see anti-tourist graffiti but that’s it. Barcelona has long had an over-tourism problem but I’m shocked that people would be this hostile to real tourists-especially considering that the city government is actually moving to mitigate the problems. If anything I would skip the Barcelona leg of your trip. There are lots of wonderful alternatives.
I am literally in Barcelona right now and vacation. Both my wife and I were nervous about seeing the protests a few days ago before we came. But every person we’ve spoke to said it’s not really a thing here and it doesn’t affect anything. It’s just the news blowing out of proportion . Everyone has been super friendly and kind and helpful. It is the double edged sword. Tourist spending a lot of money here, but a lot of them are disrespectful and with people buying Airbnb and living here or renting here it increases the price for normal people just trying to get by now a lot of places in the world normal people can’t afford their bills and put food on the table.
Maybe another city in Spain? I went a few weeks ago and I felt unwelcomed. I wish my trip would have not included Barcelona, Spain.
I’m currently here & haven’t experienced this or the pickpockets.., I kept looking out for those pickpockets on the metro, but honestly we haven’t seen it.
@@MichaelDangerDobbsI agree with you. I’m here and haven’t seen it or heard any of this either. I agree with the previous person who posted saying it’s more of an immigration problem not the tourists.
I've been waiting for your take. As another expat who has lived in Europe 25 years and the last two in Barcelona, I've witnessed the behaviours that are frustrating locals. As a tourism professional, I have been alarmed at the effects of AirBnBs and huge groups of tourists and sympathize with the anger, even while I strongly disagree with protesters assaulting tourists with their water pistols. It is not the fault of the unsuspecting tourist, it's the local government, businesses and property owners not sharing the wealth of tourism. With that said, tourists are just an easy target for anger at social issues that have nothing at all to do with tourists, but crime and the natural evolution of economies, but most of all the imbalance of the government's lack of controls on tourist business. There definitely needs to be broader discussions (and maybe even some initiatives to help local people learn how to capitalize on the industry). I am really glad to hear you share the tips I have been telling my clients for years: travel off-season, try to choose local businesses to support vs. conglomerates that take the profits elsewhere, be courteous to locals and be mindful of noise when out at night.
Totally agree some of the things Ive seen are totally disgusting normally drink related it's not over run with tourists to me it's the quietist I ever seen it so I don't understand what over run is meaning because I've been here 7 years and as city goes it's been quiet it's the problem of people not having respect zero these people need to change or stay away simple 💪🐸✌️
@@adriansmith1410
STURZENEGGER ARGENTINA
I was in Barcelona in June. There are a lot of "trash tourism" in Barcelona. These people only visit Barcelona to drink and make noise. It's sad but real...
My family just returned home from 38 days in Europe and we were in Barcelona for 3 nights two weeks ago and booked our tours/sites for early morning with the exception of Park Guell which was not very crowded. We stayed just near the Gothic Quarter and didn't notice too many crowds there or along the beaches. I think we were lucky. Florence and Rome were very busy and Lisbon and Porto were somewhat crowded in the touristy areas. This seems to be a double edged sword in that businesses rely on tourism but it impacts local lives. I hope a balance can be found to please everyone.
@@xTremeSequences The crux usually is that the money brought in by tourism doesn't end up in local, original businesses but in large international corporation who will then invest their revenue elsewhere.
I guess if you go in the off-season, there are fewer crowds. Definitely don't go in the summer.
@@thefozzybear Barcelona has no off-season anymore; it's treated like a theme park year-round.
@@thefozzybear
SNOW SNOW SNOW SNOW SNOW
CHILE ARGENTINA
We just got back from visiting Barcelona in mid June. It was beautiful, but very crowded. I can’t imagine how much worse it is in July and August! This is a world wide problem though, not just a Barcelona problem. You see the same over crowding and lack of affordable housing in every major city.
I would never travel to a tourist destination in peak season. I went to Barcelona at the end of January for my birthday last year. It wasn't perfect weather, but still much better than the Midwest in the winter.
STURZENEGGER ARGENTINA
Planning on going to Spain next year for 2 weeks, from North to South, but with recent events, my family and I are reconsidering our plans. To protest is one thing, but to squirt water on tourists’ faces and harass them is quite another. I wouldn’t want to spend my hard earned money in a place where I’m not welcomed.
Wine is hard to get out of clothes
Unfortunately this is a global issue. I will not visit Barcelona to do my part in helping local people realize their energy needs to become more focused on policy than people.
Thanks.
my friend who works at a school that does yearly trips to Spain just told me that they are not going there this coming school year
From where?
@@mm.pistaccio
FROM UKRAINE
You don’t have to tell me twice I’m canceling my plans to visit.
No, don't do that. This will have to go. if they can't welcome us, we won't welcome them!
Stop going to disgusting far left Barcelona and instead go to wonderful freedom hub Madrid. Believe me, Madrid is waaaay better than repulsive barcelona
@@granados6021 it's sad, because it's not reality. I live in BCN and there are so much worse problems. Tourism is not a problem. How can they complain about it? When the problems are so much worse? Unbelievable.
good dont come
@@Чулпан-ч8йY de que van a vivir 🤡🤡
Welcome to Vancouver Canada.
Exactly the same problem we’ve been having since essentially 1997.
Patrick, thank you, you for talking about this. It is an issue world wide. We live in Southern Utah, USA and have the same problem with the greatly increased number of tourists visiting the National Parks. We are planning visit to Barcelona in October when it is a little cooler and fewer tourists.
The problem I personally see is that, a city is built to house people for either commerce or industry. It comes alive with business (in any form).
So if there was industry and the city protested it and shut it down, the city would too die off eventually (like Detroit).
So for Barcelona historicly it has been commerce. And now tourism. The jobs are due to tourism. The rising housing prices (which means increased wealth for their owners) is due to tourism and the commerce it brings.
So the protest is actually about “not getting an equal share” as all protests are usually is.
I´m coming to Barcelona 2-3 times per year since 1999 - for the last 15 years it´s no fun in the spring and summer month´s. I totaly unstand the local´s, when even for me as a tourist it´s too crowded. For the last 12 Years I´m come from Nov - Feb to the city and have the best Time
I know of two cancellations. One is still going to elsewhere in Spain, the other is skipping the country. Maybe the protesters will get their wish
Maybe Spain should exit out of the EU .... that'll really show'em
Me and the wife just got back from our trip to Barcelona and Mallorca last week. We had an amazing time and everyone was super friendly to us had absolutely no issues. I can see why it’s frustrating because there were ALOT of tourists including us 🤣.
were the locals rude to you for speaking english? i’m pretty worried about my honeymoon being ruined, we’ve had it booked for a year and it’s non refundable 😔
Great video 👍 I used to work in Edinburgh and during the summer months it was almost impossible to easily move through the city due to the sheer number of tourists, with car parking costing double during August. However, tourism is a big employer and a major driver of the local economy, so there is a balance to be struck.
Its not only "over tourism" its the total lack of respect for the country and people they visit many tourists show nowadays..
@@gmm5550 Yup. And that may have to do with over-affordability of lowest-cost carriers. If your ticket is cheaper than a mid- distance bus ride, why bother with the culture, language, customs. How can a flight be cheaper than some designer knock-off from Shein?
@@ireneinbarcelona its always been been pretty cheap to fly to spain for Europeans Even in the 1980 ties and back then spain greece portugal italy was a a really cheap destinations ..think its more people that changed..lacking respect and common sense.
Yeah these areas have almost become theme parks in the eyes of many tourists. It makes life so hard for those actually living there. I live in tourist destination and just carrying out everyday tasks in the summer can become challenging as everyone battles for space and services. Where I live is not even a peak attraction it's secondary to other areas that just get absolutely rammed with visitors.
@@jeanettemullins i lived and worked here in Bangkok +15 years now..I do se the same trend.. tourists gets less respectful more uneducated can't behave and thai media and people is getting tired of it too..
What kind of "lack of respect" have you witnessed?
I will be in Barcelona in August, and there's no way i'm canceling my trip. I am always respectful towards the countries i visit, so, it;s not gonna be any different this time. I booked a hotel, in the Eixample area. I honestly feel the locals on this subject, but they should take it on their government, not the tourists. Tourists are the easy target, and without them, Barcelona will only lose. Airbnb and similar platforms are mostly owned by locals, just as tourist agencies bringing tourists in. So, they should figure the solution out, between them. As long as someone is paying money and supports the city's economy, they should be respected. Those who earn a fortune from tourism but won't share it with the local community, should be forced to do so. The tourists are doing nothing wrong. Its nobody's fault Barcelona is one of the best and most beautiful places to visit.
Reply here after your visit 😁
I advice against Barcelona, if you choose Spain
Walking through Eixample is a little bit of a pain. You have to walk down the perpendicular street a little bit to get to the crosswalk. Passeig de Gracia is the street where a lot of action is. You'll love it there. Catalan is different from Spanish and sadly August is the hottest month from what I've heard.
I hope you are not verbally or physically attacked by the locals!
You are more than welcome ❤....the majority are not like those rude protesters at all. I used to be a tourist guide here as a volunteer, architecture, history, beach, close to France. I have met amazing visitors!! Such lovely people❤ I am a traveller myself, been in Airbnbs, travelled all over France, cozy hotels...Don't continue talking about this topic because it's not real!! Most city loves tourists, mean it❤
I live in very touristic city in another part of Europe. We have the same problem with affordable housing and too much short term rentals - it really affects social life for locals. I'm sometimes a tourist also, like we all (never been in Barcelona though) and I can see why people use airbnb. I'm always using hotels, hates airbnb, but when I started to travel with bigger group than 3 people, I found that privately owned flats are sometimes only reasonalble option. And not because of the price but because of comfort. Hotels rarely have family rooms. Especially bigger ones; and they always say that they can't assure me that if we rent two or three rooms - they will be next to each other (I travel with teenagers, I won't leave them unattended and we want to be together). I think it's rarely spoken of when we discuss overtourism.
Ah I will never understand why adjoining rooms went out of style :(
Thank you for the video, we just stayed a week in Barcelona and had left before the protest, when we heard the news we were very sad. Hope we can all work something out where the locals will be better off too!
My last trip to Barcelona, since I had a car with plates from Portugal, I decided to stay in Badalona and just take the metro into Barcelona, rather than risking my windows being busted out in the 24 hour parking garages, even the ones with an 24 hr attendant since many non Spanish cars are frequently broken into as part a Barcelona's welcoming gesture to tourists or outsiders....
I visited Barcelona last june and watched many of your videos before I went. I was not expecting it but I did find “tourists go come” splattered on walls and in little notes on the floor when I visited La Barceloneta. On the night of san juan, I met a few people in the hostel I was staying at and we went to the beach to see the fireworks. Even though I speak spanish, we were talking in english as a common language and boy, I felt we were being treated VERY differently by the locals on the street. We were yelled at multiple times 😂😂😂 But overall my experience was very positive and I understand the struggle of local folk.
Also, I was very shocked to hear about the drought when I got to Spain. As soon as the train crossed the border from France, the riverbeds were totally empty and the hostel where I stayed at had several water saving measures in place.
The Spanish are very finicky ppl 😂. I have been in Spain now 2.5 months between last summer and this summer and as a Mexican/American tourist….i can tell I’m not really wanted by the locals….although I have met some nice locals….they are unfortunately not my typical encounter. I have traveled all over Spain and have been told I’ve probably seen more of Spain than many Spanish, but I have always been respectful where I go, and it’s not always reciprocated, but I do understand they feel they are being overrun by tourists and the animosity that comes with that.
According to Google the biggest group of tourists in Barcelona are the Spanish. I live in the Netherlands and Amsterdam has the same problem. The biggest group of day tourists in Amsterdam are the Dutch. Just don’t blame foreigners.
I’m glad that when I visited Amsterdam it was at a local friend’s home, and I enjoyed the city much off the beaten path than at the designed tourist areas. My friend is opposed to measures the city wants to take, like moving the Red Light district of the city center. He says that Amsterdam is what it is today because they have been welcoming visitors, merchants and sailors since Amsterdam was little but a swamp.
Sadly this is a problem world wide. I can empathize with the citizens of Barcelona. We have the same problem right now in New York.
Just got back from Spain yesterday and spent our last day in Barcelona, it was by far the worst part of our trip. The overcrowding in the touristy areas was a real problem. All of the other areas of Spain we visited were amazing and beautiful. The people and food were amazing. Highly recommend visiting this beautiful country, just stay away from the touristy cities.
My family of four visited Barcelona for a week. Just got back a couple days ago. Mid-September wasn't that crowded. We went to Montjuic on a Saturday morning and had the Castle mostly to ourselves. We also arrived fairly early at Montserrat and it wasn't very crowded. Maybe it would have been later in the day. We were welcomed at various restaurants all week. The tour guides and hotel employees were wonderful. The employee in the Metro station saw us fumbling around and came out and helped us buy the right pass. We live in the DC metro area and I can tell you I've never had that good of service in our transit stations. The weather was spectacular. It's kind of amazing how much the city has to see and do. Take one of the bicicle tours early in your trip. Thanks for the video.
I was there in May 2024 Barcelona and there were no protesters but last yr 2023 May there was some..
I love Barcelona and sorry that tourism has hurt the economy..tourism should help and drive the economy ..hope it gets better as I love ❤️ this beautiful City..
I went to Barcelona last year, your videos were so helpful. It's a great city and I'm glad the people are standing up and the country is doing something about it. (Here in the US the housing market is horrible- nothing is being done) I was very respectful, stayed in a hotel, went to small restaurants, and took public transportation quietly like a local. I do plan on going back, but you make such valid points. People need to respect the city and people that live there. 🙏
We have over-tourism in Florida too...but we don't wet or insult our tourists. After all, the economy is good for it.
Exactly. Native Floridian here, the housing is through the roof, short-term rentals everywhere. I’m still polite to visitors.
Florida is taking measures about overtourism during Spring Break. There are curfews and increased police presence.
Probably socialist leaning not involved in tourism crowd 😂
If you own a restaurant or hotel maybe.
There's thousands of people leaving the city. Which means, prices are not only skyrocketing in Barcelona, but, well up to 50.km away from it.
That does not justify a few thousand very low quality jobs
Can you afford a home where you live ? That’s the problem local people can not find places to live and are literally homeless
Not quite the same issue in San Francisco - it’s already very expensive for locals to live there, and the tourist “business zones” (looking at you: fisherman’s wharf, Pier 39) are avoided by locals anyway for the tourist traps that they function as.
Would you say Chinatown is a tourist trap also
In New York City we have our tourist zones too. It was when my non-touristy neighborhood got “invaded” that I knew city officials had to do something. A company bought half the apartments in my building for short term rentals and at some point I couldn’t recognize anyone coming in and out. Needless to say, when my lease ended, they increased my rent triple of what I was paying and had to move.
I visited in May this year. Stayed in a hostel. And it was absolutely crowded in Las Ramblas, Boqueria market etc. But I went early morning to the Gothic Quarter etc and it was absolutely lovely without any crowds. Hope the locals get a good deal from the government regarding housing
Barcelona was terrific in March 2023. Thanks for the info, Patrick.
Glad you enjoyed!
@@rupertbryan6429 ❤️
Hi Patrick...We need a cap on AirBNB in Barcelona! The locals are suffering and not able to rent long term because of this! I blame it on the corrupt local government. Thanks for sharing❤ from Barcelona 🇪🇦
USHUAIA ARGENTINA
We were in Barcelona in May, for 2 weeks, and had no issues whatsoever. Everyone was very friendly. We loved Barcelona.
We stayed away from La Rambla. We went once, but there's really nothing there we were interested in, and it was very crowded. But if you get away from La Rambla, Barcelona is very nice to walk around in. The part we enjoyed most was Passieg de Gracia and Rambla de Catalunya.
they shouldn't blame tourists, they should blame their politicans. the tourists bring money to the city.
Thank you Patrick for this very enlightening video. The tourists who come must know that they are and will always be welcome in our city.
first of all, big congratulations to you Patrick for everything you do when it comes to Barcelona... professional and simple, useful and free, serious and yet witty... compliments... 30 years Barcelona is a part of my life and apart from the era "corona" I'm usually here once a year... all the problems of Barcelona have only one root cause, which is the incompetent city authorities who only react to the consequences, and then it's always hasty and bad... my hometown Split (Croatia) is living the same fate, which is ten times smaller in number than Barcelona, but proportionally the same percentage of tourists pass through it... the old part of the city died, because people moved out, they turned their flats into apartments and restaurants, and the city died, all thanks to incompetent city officials, authorities who were elected and paid to prevent this from happening... the domestic people are protesting but mostly those who did not grab part of the tourist money... the ban on private apartments (Barcelona) will result in a black market that will only make things worse... the solution lies in the construction of new flats outside the center which will be offered to the local population at an acceptable price on the condition that they will not be turned into apartments, the city center must be protected by booking appointments for visits, cruisers should be limited as much as possible... in essence, all this can only be solved having in mind the "Peter principle" which teaches us that the administration encourages incompetents at the top of the hierarchy and then we have what we have... best regards...
I guess this is a global issue. When planning our trips (from home in Eastern Belgium) my wife and I now avoid overly touristic places, and generally cities, as much as we can. Also, to be honest, now that our children are young adults, we appreciate being able to travel off season, which helps avoiding the crowds.
This is a public policy issue in Barcelona (and in other major tourist areas in different countries). Local governments need to take notice and pursue policy solutions balancing both tourism and the needs of local populations. For example, one potential solution might be to limit the number of AirBNB-style rentals per square kilometer. Bringing together local populations, government, and other stakeholders to come up with policy solutions tailored to each area is really the best way to address over-tourism.
As a Spaniard, let me tell you something: WELCOME TO SPAIN AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR VISIT! This does not represent the Spanish people. It is just a few individuals who were influenced by the government, which, by blaming tourists, is shirking its responsibility for the problem, for which only the government is responsible. Do not be afraid to come to Spain because we will welcome you with open arms.
This comment should be pinned! It is what I've heard too. It's not about tourists, it's about bad policy and bad decisions made by the governments.
Thank you, but I wish you speak to them....these few individuals
@@j.evangelista3577 I'm sorry, but I don't talk to those kinds of people. I make an effort every day to stay as far away from them as possible. For those of us who are not tourists, they are just as toxic.
@@UnusSedLeo-w5l You will notice it if you travel to Spain. We Spaniards are noble and welcoming people. Certainly, Barcelona is becoming a dangerous city, though for other reasons, more than because of those few people brainwashed by the government.
As a noble Spaniards, kind , friendly, hospitalilty , christianity, raise your flag against toxic. @@EspañolConOrgullo
Cool, but did the protesters have that same energy towards foreign shop and restaurant owners/workers?
I have been there 5 times since 2015 and really just be a good person and don’t be rude and a typical obnoxious tourist and you’re gonna be fine. I think the people that live in the city. The sense that I get is, they don’t mind tourism just don’t destroy your culture and the way of life.
@@Lightdog555 this is a great comment and agree. The hardest part of this issue could just be the sheer amount of tourism where the city becomes overwhelmed by it. I have zero clue and don’t know of any way for how to find a balance. On one end tourism is great for a city but too much causes problems. You don’t want tourism to go away you just don’t want it to stress the people, governments, and resources.
We love Spain and strive to be respectful and kind. We try to stay in areas where locals live and experience life in the barrios so we can absorb the culture. We have met the most wonderful and amazing people. It always makes us cringe when there are other fellow tourists who are loud and disrespectful. We are guests and need to respect them and their culture.😢
Go to Madrid. Safer cleaner and we welcome everyone.
Thank you! I'm going to Spain in October and used only hotels instead of AirBNB. I'm going to see Malaga, Sevilla, and finally, Madrid which I decided on because I wasn't seeing as much protests.
And wonderful, world class museums and parks. I much prefer Madrid!
@@AvioftheSandplease come to vasque country 😊😊
@@yomismo6912 Thank you!
I agree… they are nicer than people in Barcelona
I moved to BCN at the tail end of the pandemic.
I had a cheap room, but then the owner told me to move when tourism started to pick up again.
No doubt to Airbnb the place.
My second room was perfect, then after 2 months everyone was moved out by the building owner, it’s on Airbnb now.
Since this happened twice to me in 4 / 5 month, I assume a lot of locals are having the same issue.
A "developed country" like Spain can get away with such actions with minimum backlash but imagine if locals in a developing country where tourism is a major source of revenue were to do what people in Spain just did, the amount of backlash and negative coverage they would get would be huge.
I am in Barcelona now, never thought I cancelling. Been here for a week, so far everyone has been very friendly.
Airbnb and Vrbo definitely have their down sides, but it makes me sad to see a total ban. When I travel to another country, I want to experience it like a local and I don't feel I can do that in a hotel. Staying in an apartment means you get to shop at a local grocery store for your meals. It means you can go to the local bar on the corner in the evenings for a drink. It means you can interact with local people in a more meaningful way. Wherever you choose to travel, please be respectful of the people living there that have to put up with "us tourists" in their daily lives. If you travel solo, hire local guides (yes, Patrick is a local, and he is fabulous! We hired him in May of this year). Also, if touring in a group is your thing, consider going with a tour company that takes you to local restaurants and puts you up in locally run hotels. Travel isn't just about seeing the sights. Talk to the people who live there. Find out what their lives are like and what concerns them. Don't cancel your trip. Go and learn.
Where do Spaniards go on holidays. Do they travel within Spain or outside. In the US most of Americans travel within the USA during the summer. I noticed that there were many Europeans in Barcelona. I heard that Barcelona is a very popular bachelor and bachelorette destination for European, is this true?
We have several options:
1. Travel inside Spain. It's cheaper and we know the good places that aren't full of foreigners.
2. Travel to other souther European countries. Go to Italy or Portugal and speak Spanish hoping to be understood (it'll be more useful than trying english anyway).
3. Northern Europe. The experience often includes complaining about the sh*tty weather, complaining about the sh*tty food and complaining about how everything is so expensive. But the architecture!!! (Or something).
The most adventurous might try Eastern Europe, and rich people might go somewhere else outside of Europe, but for most people those are the options.
Yes, go there off season! February is perfect! And support the local restaurants... they are also the best!
One final point Patrick, pure respect is to treat a person the way they want to be treated not how you would want to be treated we are all different so something that would not offend you might offend somebody else.
So, pure respect is reading someone's mind.
@@MyAccountForCommenting if you think needing to be a mind reader is a prerequisite to knowing what is offensive or not then in your case probably, you have surely heard people say things like it would not bother me if i was called something, so does that mean its ok to call someone else that because you would not be offended, that is not mind reading it is common sense.
@kevindodds5441 Your advice means it's not ok to say offensive things to people who might be offended. Your advice also means it's ok to say offensive things to people who won't be offended. You don't know who is who. You don't know how each individual person you encounter thinks. You're not a mind reader.
@@MyAccountForCommenting its not my advice and its never ok to say offensive things to people, the true meaning is just to be mindful of the fact that what does not offend on person my offend another so choose your words carefully.
Go to Greece, folks. It is much better than Batcelona and the peope are friendly.
Hi Patrick, my family and I just returned from a 3-weeks' trip in Italy and Spain. Barcelona was awesome, and I remember seeing the protest in the city centre, though it was pacific. Overall, Barcelona is a great city to live in, and people are friendly. Today, as it stands, Barcelona is a much better city than Milan for example: people are friendlier, food price is much cheaper, less pickpockets and local transportation is much more affordable. I definitely agree with you that overturism in a city of 1.7 million may be an issue. If I were the local authorities, I'd seriously think of setting local quotasfor tourists in the summer months on a first come, first served basis. Local people do suffer from "touristy" prices, but as you rightly said tourism in Barcelona amounts to 14% of the local GDP. It's a double-edged sword. In the end, the situation in Barcelona isn't so dramatic and I'd rather live in Barcelona than Milan anytime. Great video!
It's an amazing video analysis on that situation. A pity, unfair for locals and tourists as well while a few are taking their slice without taking care at all.
Thanks Patrick for doing such a great and polite analysis, not easy.
As soon as everyone stops going they will complain of no tourist money
Not every one. tourism only makes money for the small business trinkets/ restaurants/ hotel and how does that help their economy, when the money goes to stock market owned business or corporate owned business.
I live in BC and since expo 86, i have not been able to go to whistler, since tourism.... so don't give two rips if whistler exist or not. It now for tourist and not for locals any more. so yeah ...i don't like tourism. we never needed it and now look what happen because of it. It not afford able for locals
@@gottasay1157 But this is something you guys have to complain to the top people about. The answer is not unwelcoming tourists, sorry! That's what your governors want-- to throw people against each other while they do nothing to solve the issue, see?
If this escalates, there will be NO tourism in Europe anymore! Because if you can't welcome us, the rest of Europe won't welcome you, the Spanish and its residents. Enough with this! I love Spain, especially Barcelona! It's the only way I have to practise my Spanish and absorb its culture while I feel mesmerized by the beauty of the city. I love Gaudi's art so much that I cried when I first visited Casa Batló and especially Casa Mila, la Pedrera. I want to return because I haven't seen Sagrada Familia inside. I don't want to feel unwelcome and unsafe there. We do not go to touristic restaurants. My husband and I use local businesses. We praise the culture. Leave us alone! Fight the top dogs, not us!
@@gottasay1157 are you a tourist? Do you travel? If you don't like tourists in Bcn, stay there and don't bother people in other places.
@@doobz2oon334 obviously
This is the kind of comments that make ppl hate tourists.
I was in Barcelona last year for my birthday. I was planning to go back next year but will now cancel. I don’t want to get attacked by the locals.
I hope you don’t think you’ll be attacked
@@PatrickGuideBarcelona I am worried I will be attacked.
@@ady8097 We're not going to attack anyone, please. Protesters were squirting people with water guns, for crying out loud.
Thanks Patrick for this video. My mum and I visit Barcelona a few times a year. It's our second home. Please people, don't cancel you trip, because of the one sided video's you might have seen about the protests. As long as you respect the locals, they will make you feel welcome. And just like Patrick says, explore other beautiful surroundings of Barcelona. Go to Gaudi's Crypta Guëll or Torre Bellesguard for instance. Go visit some beautiful parcs, like Parc del Guinardó or Parc del Turó del Putxet, where you have some breathtaking views. Las Ramblas is ok, but Barcelona has a lot more to offer than this crowded street.
I just returned from Barcelona last week. We did not have any problems.
I was about to book a trip to Barcelona/madrid for my family for the first time. I’ve been watching your videos to prepare myself for my trip…then I found this one…thank you for telling me about what is going on so I will not go on a trip there. I live in Boston which has the second highest rent to the us (Hawaii is number one). I would never blame tourists for the rent being unaffordable. Thank you
We have the same issue in Italy, you cannot rent anymore because everything is an Air bnb now and super expensive. IT's not a Barcelona situation it's everywhere in Europe, because there are loophole that politicians do not care about. So take it to your mayor not to the visitors, they only make you richer. But it's true inflation is killing the future. I am Italian living in Australia and got more opportunities here than in my hometown. But I will be visiting Barcelona very soon for two weels. I love that city, I would like to live there.
Real estate speculation and house flipping is rampant the world over and a major cause of soaring rents and housing costs.
I have been living in Barcelona for14 years also, I think this is a one of incident and this video is really sensationalising and scare mongering. pick pockets yes ,be careful!! but the locals attacking the tourists this is the first incident I have heard of.
I'm one of these people who had to leave Barcelona years ago and find another place to live because of house prices and the lack of jobs not related to tourism.
I feel sad watching what this city has become.
I dislike the way my local fellows protested against tourists but the whole situation it's not fair. I can't afford to come back to my family and friends.
I was in Barcelona, Madrid, Granada, and Malaga in March. Madrid was more crowded than Barcelona. Then we went to Porto and Lisbon. They were way more crowded than Spain. I suggest off season and planning tourist spots first thing in the AM and arrive early.
Just go where people want you to come...was in Madrid recently. Very nice people. Very helpful...
Also Portugal 🇵🇹..lovely people.
I found that in Portugal the people were very friendly.
In my opinion tourism makes every country progressive and Spain have lots of food business like restaurants, groceries and etc. and most of the people live from tourists. What will happen with the businesses establishments there? How can they pay their workers? Most (local) people there will have no more job. Thanks for sharing your video.
I need to travel there soon because of work- and I feel a bit discouraged… I believe this is a worldwide phenomenon and sadly the ones to hold accountable for this gentrification caused mainly by digital nomads, are the wealthy owners of entire buildings or realtors, etc… who have more than one property and the governments not regulating the side effects of the modern exodus.
There are so many empty houses in BCN and the vast majority of these homes are owned by locals as second and third homes not rented to tourist or other locals!
I trust people will not just say “Alright, will not go to Bercelona. Will just go to say, Valencia or Madrid”. I hope they say “ will not go to Spain. Period. Many other places and countries where you can spend your money.
The issue is not enough housing is being built (due to cost saving) and has been an increasing issue for decades worldwide. I'm in London and we have the same issue but acknowledge its lack of building. Cities expand. It's how they became cities in the first place. Tourism is just being used as a scape goat.
My (Spanish) ex lives in Guadalest, Alicante. It's a mountain village of around 200 people and receives over 2 million visitors a year without issue. They work hard to attract tourists. With these (now violent) protests (and the ones in Alicante last weekend) staged by people who misunderstand the problem my ex and her business partner are now worried for the future of their business.
The world just needs to put the financial crash behind it and build houses again.
Commenting for engagement loll, I've been very worried about this myself I'm glad you've made this ❤
It’s the same problem here in Vancouver. Locals blame tourists and foreigners for being real estate in prime areas. With a very average salary, you’re not qualifying to buy those properties anyway.
I fear Barcelona and Venice will end up with the same fate. If you push out locals and small businesses, replace them with American chains and souvenir shops, then you have eliminated the very character that people visited you for in the first place.
my father and uncle were born in Barcelona, to me, it’s the greatest city, my wife and I were there in April and all of our experiences were above and beyond, we both have or had worked in some type of industry that caters to tourism and we have always tipped, yes I know it’s not customary there but it should be, this would help in those who give you great service a chance to have a better life, those who just pay are not helping to change their outcome, I would enjoy a chance to talk to you personally, thank you for all your videos.
Great video. Barcelona is such an amazing place. We visit every year and have made some good friends in the city.
I 100% agree that you should spend your money with local businesses. Why go to Starbucks when the city has so many great coffee spots! Not to mention amazing locally owned restaurants.
My other tip would be just to walk and walk some more. So many amazing squares and parks to see. We have been to all the main “attractions” after so many years visiting. We come back because we love the city and the people.
If you’re visiting Barcelona, please, just be respectful and you will have an amazing time!
Was there for Formula 1 in June. Had no problems. Had a great time and can’t wait to go back.
I've been living in BCN for 14 years as well, work in tourism, and I've seen so much change since I moved... When I was trying to buy a house, right about that time they were not allowing more touristic licenses, most of the flipped picture perfect houses originally meant to be for Airbnb or touristflats, didn't even have a connection for a washing machine, inimini kitchens (more for show than anything else), and still, the prices have only gone up.
To stop the prices from going up further, BCN has been divided into parts in which rents are controlled by the government, to make sure people are not taking advantage of their people, however there's always loopholes. I couldn't be more happy with the elimination of licenses by 2025. It was turning into Paris, where locals do not live in the city, but in the outskirts.
The concentrations of tourism in certain parts of the city make them more susceptible to robberies too, and an incredible rise of homeless, drawn to the city in hopes of a better life and simpathy from tourists, only to find that they are also not welcome as they are not good for the image.
OH PLEASE PEOPLE KEEP YOUR SHIRT ON...!! We know it's hot, but keep your clothes on...
You just gotta treat the place you're at as if it were your home, respect is EVERYTHING
My wife and I are visiting Barcelona in early October. We were concerned after we saw the protests a few weeks ago. Your video has allayed some of our concerns. A lot of what you advise is common sense and decency. Treat the locals (and everyone you encounter) with dignity and respect. We always welcome visitors who come to my home town in Austin, Texas. I'm hopeful we will be welcomed and treated well when we visit Barcelona.
Cancel your trip, do what the locals want. They don’t want tourist, then go somewhere you are wanted
Stop talking shit
Thank you for making this video. I have plans to be in Barcelona in September, mostly doing a horse riding tour but unfortunately I will be there during the America's cup time frame. I was thinking of canceling but now I think it will be okay. I am on the local. I am in a hotel and I do sympathize with the reasons why they are having these protests. I hope this helps everyone
Stop talking about this. Its a minority of people. Locals lo ve tourists❤ The architecture, history, beach, close to France. I am traveller myself, and been a tourist guide in Barcelona and loved it. Met lovely people❤️ Stay safe from pickpockets ❤️
I was in Barcelona that weekend. I was in tourist areas but not the protest area. For what it's worth, I didn't even know about the protests until I saw it in the news when I got home. Everyone in the restaurants and the workers in the major sites were all very nice and positive.
Same here..didn't even notice in my area..had fab time,everyone super polite in hotels, restaurants, museums, stores...in terms of turism no dif then Athena, Venice, Rome etc..wherever is nice it is crowded..it is given..places where u can see amazing architecture, nature, museums etc. By default will be crowded
they are polite because they are PAID to be polite...
@@MrCanalon There are plenty of paid workers in the US who are outright rude. The Lost Leblanc video on Barcelona said the wait staff in the places he went treated it like a favor to do basic services, which is the stereotype Americans have of Europeans.
In Mexican tourist cities like Cancun, Los Cabos, Nayarit, Oaxaca or Mexico City we are used to tourism, we have never attacked anyone who decides to visit us and everyone returns to their countries happy, I attribute it to a problem of idiosyncrasy, the average Spaniard is not very friendly, polite nor hospitable (I didn't have a very good time in Madrid).
"Catalunya is Not Spain" -- or so the graffiti says. So, to say the "average Spaniard" while referring to Barcelona fails to recognize the vast regional differences in attitude.
It also suggests you've only been to the touristy parts of Spain where over-tourism has brought disdain for tourists for decades.
Up here on the Cantabrian coast, I've been welcomed as first a tourist and now a citizen immigrant. I'm pretty sure you aren't counting Green Spain in your "average."
Catalunya is feudal and corrupt. That's why the monied few are whipping the working classes into a frenzy of linguistic intolerance and nationalism. The monied few know they will be free from the oversight of Spanish national law -- and if anyone thinks that will help the workers of Catalunya live better, they're huffing paint.
I support the idea of NATIONAL independence referendum, so we can ALL vote for Catalunya to CEXIT and be done with their delusions of superiority and their petty tribalism. Don't let the door hit you as you exit the EU too...
@@viscayavagabond excuse my ignorance, but is Catalunya, Catalan such as the region where Barcelona is ?
@@enjoystraveling Yes.
I didn’t enjoy Madrid as much as Barcelona for that reason…the ppl & I agree with your statement about Spanish hospitality….having traveled all over Spain, some cities are definitely better about it than others.
Coming to Barcelona in November 2024. Can't wait! I'm an experienced, solo traveler. I definitely will keep this video in mind.
I feel for these people because these are universal issues in almost every western city and Barcelona is a beautiful place but these protests are ridiculous. They were harassing and assaulting tourists instead of the politicians that caused the problems in the first place.
We were there from the 5th to the 9th and didnt see any protests. We had a great time.
We love Barcelona and have traveled to the city many times. I always have found it to be a beautiful and friendly city. Usually we stay in the city for 5-7 days before we cruise to other destinations and usually travel there in the fall. I can understand residents right to protest but to attack innocent people is not acceptable. So don’t defend them.
Thank you very much for the update on the protesting. We are visiting Barcelona in September and will unfortunately only be there for one full day. Your videos and feedback have been very helpful in our planning.
One could see the locals viewpoint and sympathize with them. However, they should be careful what they wish for. If they're that intent on driving tourists away, give them what they want. As for the aftermath? Well, that would be on them.
I get why people are protesting, especially with issues like housing that many cities face. The cost of living crisis is everywhere. In London, most people can't afford to buy properties until later in life. Rome has similar problems too, and if you think Europe has it bad, imagine other places in the world that have nothing right now.
Every European city deals with a lot of tourists. London gets around 21 million a year, and Barcelona gets about 9 million. Instead of targeting tourists, measures should be taken to prioritize the housing situation. The Airbnb reduction is a good start, but there needs to be a better plan. It's important to be respectful whenever and wherever you travel.
I was considering Barcelona, but I'm having second thoughts. I've seen so many videos about pickpocketing and now protests. It's a shame because my friends always mention the architecture, cuisine and culture. I hope this situation gets better everywhere!
Go to Madrid instead (though not in the summer). Clean, safe, amazing museums and palaces and great public transportation.
@lindagarrido4353 definitely. We have same issues in London.
Madrid awesome
@@lindagarrido4353 Thank you for this recommendation, i would love to visit Madrid.
Why don't they just nationalize tourism. Make it the patrimony of the state to benefit its own citizens. So instead of money bring bootlegged to international conglomerates it'll be locals that get a direct financial benefit from all that foot traffic.
As an individual/couple/family the protestors have no idea whether you're part of the problem or whether you're already sensitive to their issues. In places like Venice, the locals were fed up with cruise ships docking, hundreds of passengers streaming off and contributing very little to the local economy. All their eating/drinking would take place on board and the local restaurants would see little benefit.
I've stayed in Barcelona twice, once in a hotel with my wife and once in a large apartment in a dodgy graffiti-ridden side street behind La Rambla (Carrer de Guardia) con mis hermanos y sus hijos. We ate local, shopped local, used buses, the metro and cable car. I visited the police station after being mugged. I spotted a shoplifter in El Corte Ingles and alerted the staff. We travelled to Montserrat to give thanks. No-one would know anything about us other than we would be seen as 'guiri'
The protests should not be about tourism. As the capital of the region, Barcelona can cope with and thrive off tourism. As can Las Islas Baleares
In a market economy, an apartment owner is going to rent to the highest bidder and in this way it is no different to many major cities in failing to ensure that the people who work in the shops, bars, restaurants will have somewhere to live. The realisation will eventually dawn on them that many young people will need to live on the fringes and commute rather than having a 'right' to live in the centre in future.
I guess if you are eating in "Taco Bell" in Barcelona, as the guys wet by the protestors, you are part of the problem
And the easiest one is stopping cruise ships. Passengers already paid for food and room on the ship. They spend less than the average tourist. Why are they allowed to dump thousands of people who don’t even spend much while on land?
Cities all over are dealing with this - hear of protests in Juneau. Alaska too!
The protests are aimed at a very specific type of tourist and I'm sorry to say that they mainly come from the where i'm from (UK).
I’m still looking forward to my trip later this year. I try not to add to the problem anywhere I go. As much as possible I try to support local businesses and be respectful of the locales. It also tends to be a better experience anyway.
I'm heading to Barcelona in October. This video was so good. I will try to be more aware and respectful when I'm there.
I was planning to get retired in Barcelona and i'm hesitating after seeing tourists go home what do you think?
Good explanation, as many foreigners do not seem to understand this a worldwide issue for locals who run the places they visit!