Spain leads Europe in anti‑tourism protests across five countries

Protests against overtourism have erupted in several European nations, with Spain experiencing the highest number of demonstrations. Activists have taken to the streets in more than 40 cities, from Barcelona to the Canary Islands, demanding limits on the influx of visitors.

Similar anti‑tourism rallies have occurred in Italy's major cities such as Venice, Rome, Florence, Naples and Milan, in France's Marseille, Nice and Paris, in Greece's island hotspots including Santorini and Mykonos, and in Portugal’s capital Lisbon. The unrest is driven by concerns over rising housing costs, strain on infrastructure and loss of local character.

In response, some governments are introducing measures such as tourist taxes and stricter regulations on short‑term rentals to curb the pressure on local communities and fund repairs to overstretched services.