"Barcelona Is Not For Sale": Protest Against Over-Tourism! (Video)

Thousands of demonstrators marched through Barcelona over the weekend, carrying banners asking tourists to go back to their countries. The demonstration saw 2,800 people take to the streets, according to local police. Protesters held signs that read "Barcelona Is Not For Sale." They argue that the influx of tourists has led to rising living costs and property prices, deepening social inequalities and making it difficult to secure housing. According to the real estate site "Idealista," rents in popular tourist cities like Barcelona and Madrid rose by 18% in June compared to the previous year. One protester told Reuters: "We came here to protest against mass tourism in Barcelona. The city has increasingly catered to tourists, and we want a city for the citizens, not just for tourists." Another added: "Restaurants and hotels are making huge profits, but people are struggling to meet their needs; this is a problem." In response to growing pressure, Barcelona Mayor Jaume Collboni announced a plan to gradually end all short-term rentals by 2028 and reduce the number of tourist apartments in the city.