Pushback against over-tourism in Spain is reflected in new signs across Madrid (2025)

Tourism is important to the Spanish economy but critics are arguing the country is too reliant on it.

SCOTT SIMON, HOST:

What's not to love about Spain? - Barcelona, Toledo, Madrid, 5,000 miles of coastline, paella, Rioja. But as Miguel Macias reports, some locals feel like their country is overloved.

MIGUEL MACIAS, BYLINE: Let me start by sharing an anecdote, something that happened to me recently. I was visiting Madrid for a conference, so I figured I would stay for the weekend with the family. One night after putting the baby to sleep at our Airbnb apartment, I went outside to wait for a delivery. That's when I noticed a pink, round sticker on the building's intercom. It read, this used to be my home. And then hashtag, curse word that I can't say on the radio, Airbnb.

PICU: (Through interpreter) About two years ago, a good friend of mine saw her building being sold to an investment fund that was going to turn her entire building into housing for tourists.

MACIAS: That's Picu. She's the person who makes the stickers I saw in Madrid. We're not using her last name because what she does could be considered vandalism. That friend Picu is talking about had to leave her apartment after the new owner started construction and made the building uninhabitable for her and her partner.

PICU: (Through interpreter) And I said, we need to do something. People need to know that they are kicking us out of our apartments. I think it's important that Airbnb users learn that they are staying at places that used to be people's homes. They're turning our cities into theme parks.

MACIAS: Picu is not alone in feeling this way. In fact, she's now a part of a national movement that is protesting what they say is the negative impact that mass tourism is having on Spanish cities. In 2023, more than 85 million people visited the country. So in 2024, we've seen the reaction to that with protests in Madrid, Malaga, the Canary Islands and, of course, Barcelona.

(SOUNDBITE OF PROTEST)

UNIDENTIFIED PROTESTERS: (Chanting) Tourists, go home. [inaudible] Tourists, go home.

MACIAS: During this protest, on July 6 in Barcelona, some participants used water guns to target tourists. That surely caught the attention of the media.

DANIEL PARDO: (Through interpreter) Well, this is a bit silly, but given the attention, they're giving us reasons to use water guns again. By the way, this wasn't really organized. It was improvised by some of the protesters.

MACIAS: Daniel Pardo is a member of a neighbor's assembly that fights mass tourism. They helped organize that protest in Barcelona. Pardo cites problems with health, the environment, income inequality and simply the fact that the city is not welcoming to its own people anymore. But above all...

PARDO: (Through interpreter) The impact that worries us the most at this point is the impact in housing access, which is the most serious social problem that we face, not only in Barcelona but in other cities in the country.

MACIAS: In some neighborhoods, in the historic center of cities like Seville, there is more housing for tourists than for locals. That means locals are pushed to other areas away from the city center. But in some cases, that is not even possible, like in the Canary Islands, the Spanish archipelago off the coast of northwestern Africa.

ALFONSO BOULLON: (Through interpreter) We have grown exponentially, without any control, without any kind of plan and, in some cases, even breaking the law.

MACIAS: Alfonso Boullon is a spokesperson for an ecologist grassroots organization in the Canary Islands. He says that some of the urban development on the islands breaks environmental laws.

BOULLON: (Through interpreter) In the Canary Islands, there are many hotels that have an order to be demolished, and they're not demolished because the local government lobbies in favor of the economic interest instead of enforcing the law.

MACIAS: But Alfonso Boullon also makes something clear.

BOULLON: (Through interpreter) We are not against tourism. We are all tourists at some point. We love to travel and see the world. The problem is the magnitude of the industry, the model that we are following.

MACIAS: Picu in Madrid, the woman who made those stickers to post them around town - she disagrees.

PICU: (Through interpreter) We all complain about tourism, but we should all travel less. We need to exercise some self-control, as well.

MACIAS: Whether it's all about less tourism or more about self-control, activists in Barcelona, Madrid, the Canary Islands and many other Spanish cities are not done protesting. But with tourism making up about a tenth of economic growth and 1 in 10 jobs, Spain's economic reliance on the sector will be difficult to undo.

For NPR News, I'm Miguel Macias in Seville, Spain.

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Pushback against over-tourism in Spain is reflected in new signs across Madrid (2025)

FAQs

What are the negative effects of tourism in Spain? ›

Additionally, mass tourism can result in certain areas of the city becoming overcrowded, especially those close to popular sights and attractions. This can make it difficult for locals to go about their day, as well as cause environmental issues due to pollution and littering.

Why does Spain attract so many tourists? ›

Its varied landscapes. Spain is much more than miles of beaches on the Mediterranean or the Atlantic. It is also the mountains to the north of the Iberian Peninsula, the verdant Natural Parks, the lunar landscapes of the Canary Islands and the semi-arid expanses of Andalusia.

Why is tourism important for Spain? ›

Spain is a world leader in the tourism sector, and constitutes one of the main pillars of our economy, source of income (provides 11.7 per cent of gdp) and employment generation, used to 12.2 per cent of all in Spain. It takes 40 years to drive the growth of this sector.

Why do tourists go to Madrid? ›

From its stunning architecture, to the delicious cuisine and incredible nightlife, Madrid has so much to offer. Whether you're looking for a cultural, historic or foodie experience Madrid has something unique in store for you. With so much to offer, Madrid is one of the best places to visit in Spain for first-timers.

What is the tourism situation in Spain? ›

Spain has broken its record in number of international visitors: thanks to the more than 85 million tourists arriving in Spain, every year it is recognized as the second most visited country in the world, after France. The United States and Italy follow.

What is a negative effect of tourism? ›

Tourism puts enormous stress on local land use, and can lead to soil erosion, increased pollution, natural habitat loss, and more pressure on endangered species. These effects can gradually destroy the environmental resources on which tourism itself depends.

What city in Spain has the most tourists? ›

Spain's Most Visited Cities
  • Madrid: Spain's Heart and Soul. Spain's capital city is of course also one of its most visited. ...
  • Barcelona: Iberia's Tourism Capital. Barcelona has a little of everything. ...
  • Seville: The Southern City of Culture. ...
  • What to Know Before Traveling to Spain's Cities.

Is Spain welcoming to tourists? ›

So much so that it welcomed a record 85.1 million international tourists in 2023 alone. And if you too are planning a journey to the birthplace of Don Quixote, Pablo Picasso, and Penélope Cruz, you might be wondering about how safe it is.

Which nationality visits Spain the most? ›

The United Kingdom was the main country of origin for international tourism in Spain in 2023. In that year, more than 17 million British travelers headed South for a trip to Spain. Meanwhile, France ranked in second place that year, accounting for around 11.8 million foreign visitors to Spanish territory.

What is Spain best known for? ›

Spain is famous for its culture, delicious food like paella and tapas, and iconic landmarks such as the Sagrada Familia and Alhambra. It is also known for flamenco dancing, bullfighting, and beautiful beaches.

What is Spain ranked in tourism? ›

Leader in Holiday and Leisure Tourism

Spain is the 2nd leading tourism brand in the world. It is the 3rd country in terms of number of tourists per year. Spanish airports receive more than 230 million passengers every year. Spanish ports receive 8.6 million cruise passengers every year.

Why is Madrid so famous? ›

Madrid is most famous for the Prado Museum. The museum is a must-visit for anyone who enjoys art. But it's also famous for its exquisite food, world-renowned football club, gorgeous parks, royal palace, and historical squares.

Is Madrid cheap or expensive? ›

Though it's always possible to splurge if you want to, thrifty travelers to the Spanish capital will breathe a sigh of relief when they spot the city's reasonable prices. Madrid offers a wealth of affordable options for tourists that don't sacrifice quality for low prices.

Is it ok to travel to Madrid? ›

US State Dept Travel Advisory

The US State Department currently recommends US citizens exercise increased caution in Spain due to terrorism and civil unrest.

How does tourism impact Spain's economy? ›

Tourism accounted for 71% of real growth in the Spanish economy last year, according to tourism lobby group Exceltur. Consumption by non-residents accounted for nearly a third of Spain's 2.5% growth in 2023, according to BBVA.

What are the negative impacts of tourism in Barcelona? ›

Barcelona's tourism industry and its production model leads to very serious impacts and conflicts for the local society and the environment: The expulsion of residents for the transformation of their houses into tourist accommodations (hotels and both legal and illegal apartments);

What are the cons of Spain? ›

The biggest disadvantage of moving to Spain is the lack of job opportunities. It isn't easy to get a job, but knowing Spanish and other languages will open doors for you across a wider range of occupations. If you move to Spain without knowing any Spanish, you might want to look for a remote job.

What would happen to Spain without tourism? ›

Weaker than it is now, but not totally ruined. Other than tourism Spain also has a large banking and insurance sector, which contributes a major deal to the economy. Several large companies are based in Spain. In other words, they would survive.

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