Marseille residents protest tourism surge and Airbnb impact

Marseille is experiencing significant tension between its rising popularity as a tourist destination and the needs of its local residents. In July 2026, the city became the most requested tourist destination in France on the Booking platform.

Local residents have expressed growing frustration through social media and graffiti, with messages such as ‘Tourists go home’ and ‘Airbnb kills our neighborhoods.’ Critics argue that the explosion of short-term rentals, which exceeds 13,000 listings in the city, is driving up real estate prices and preventing locals from living in their own districts. Some business owners also report that while tourist numbers are increasing, their actual consumption is lower, leading to restaurant closures.

Simultaneously, the city’s municipal services have faced criticism for service gaps during the summer season. The Alcazar library’s youth and music departments remained closed for much of the summer due to reorganization, and several other libraries, including Bonneveine, Merlan, and Le Panier, suffered from air conditioning failures during heatwaves.