While Spain remains one of the most popular holiday destinations for Britons, more and more holidaymakers are boycotting the spot due to anti-tourist feelings in the country.
Protests against over-tourism have broken out in recent months, with Majorca locals seen gathering in their hundreds as they demand the end of mass tourism.
Tourists were seen carrying signs reading statements such as “Tourists go home, SOS residents”. One protestor hoisted up a T-shirt reading a similar slogan.
In Palma de Majorca, around 20,000 protesters took to the streets, holding posters targeting tourists in Britain and Germany. One banner written in English read: “Take Back Your Drunks, Give Back Our Homes.”
‘Boycott the place, they will soon come crying back’
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Earlier this month in Barcelona, anti-tourism protesters used water pistols to drench restaurant-goers.
Some Spaniards have blamed tourists for soaring house prices, as foreigners buying property and renting holiday homes has driven prices up.
Responding to the anti-tourist sentiment in Spain, one GB News reader said: “I remember how they were begging people to come back during Covid, how poor they were, how they couldn’t survive without tourists. Maybe having it quiet put them off once the tourists did return.
“Just cross Spain off the destination list. There are many other countries where tourists are more than welcome. Let them eat cake!”
Another seconded the point: “Boycott the place, they will soon come crying back when they lose hundreds of millions per year spent by the tourists, plenty of other sunshine destinations that are not stupid enough to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs.”
Cruise passengers in Barcelona are set to be hit by a “substantial” tax hike, which will affect passengers visiting the city for less than 12 hours.
Passengers could be required to pay more than the current €7 (£5.89) a day to deter overtourism.
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‘If the Spanish don’t want the tourist’s money don’t give it to them!’
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Mayor of Barcelona Jaume Collboni said the tax would be increased to tackle the “intensive use of public space without any benefit for the city”.
It will also mitigate the “feeling of occupation and saturation” among locals frustrated by mass tourism.
Speaking about the crackdown on cruisers, one GB News reader said: “The way to deal with this is really simple, go elsewhere. If the Spanish don’t want the tourist’s money don’t give it to them. There are so many other destinations that want the money.”
Another said: “Many cities do this, they just outprice themselves. It’s not just the cost, it’s the principle that puts people off.”
But while some disgruntled Britons have decided to boycott Spain, others empathise with the protestors’ plight.
One said: “Sadly the British tourist yobbery has caused this and I don’t blame the Spanish people at all. The appalling behaviour of so many British tourists abroad is a huge stain on this country and gives us all a bad name by association.”
Another said: “As with everything in life, all things in moderation. Too much of a good thing is a disaster. What’s missing is a regulating mechanism that would allow just the right number of tourists to come over. You’d have thought that the tourists themselves would be clever enough to understand it’s not much fun being on holiday in a sardine can, and go somewhere else. But they’re obviously not clever enough.”
