Thousands of individuals took to the streets in major cities across Spain on Sunday, including Barcelona, Palma, San Sebastián, and Granada, to voice their concerns against mass tourism. Protesters argue that this model displaces local residents and inflates housing prices. In Palma, leading the movement was Jaume Pujol from the platform Menys Turisme, Més Vida, advocating for a reduction in holiday rentals and limiting the number of flights to the Balearic Islands.

Demonstrators in San Sebastián highlighted housing as a fundamental right amid an alarming housing emergency. Around five hundred people participated in a march organised by the Bizilagunekin platform, supported by forty-eight local associations and groups, who insist that the rising cost of living is directly linked to the overwhelming presence of tourism in the area.

In Barcelona, approximately six hundred individuals gathered to protest against a proposed expansion of El Prat Airport, a move critics argue will exacerbate the impact of mass tourism. The protest was marked by slogans demanding a halt to the increase of flight traffic and a stand against the city’s growing tourist pressures.

In Granada, citizens rallied at the Mirador de San Nicolás to oppose what they describe as a ‘predatory’ tourism model. The spokesperson for Albayzín Habitable, César Rodríguez, pointed out that one in four homes in the renowned Albaicín district is now designated for tourist use, highlighting fears that the area’s cultural identity is at risk. Each of these protests underscores a growing call for a sustainable tourism framework that respects local communities.