Europe Erupts Against Over-Tourism: Cities From Spain to Italy to Greece Revolt as Locals Put Up New Fight with Protests, Taxes, and Water Guns! – Travel And Tour World

Summer 2025 could be remembered as the season when Europe’s tourism industry faced significant resistance from local communities. In several major cities and tourist hotspots, a wave of protests signaled a growing backlash against mass tourism. In Barcelona, frustrated locals, overwhelmed by the influx of tourists, resorted to spraying visitors with water guns as they struggled to navigate the city’s overcrowded streets. On the Spanish island of Mallorca, thousands of residents took to the streets demanding an end to the overwhelming presence of tourists, a sentiment echoed across Europe. In Genoa, Italy, residents paraded a cardboard ocean liner through the narrow streets of the city in protest against the seasonal invasion of cruise ship passengers. Meanwhile, in Paris, Louvre staff staged a protest against the overcrowding in the museum’s galleries, locking out large crowds of visitors.

Even Jeff Bezos’ highly publicized wedding in Venice faced opposition from locals. Demonstrators, holding placards that read “Save Venice from Bezos,” voiced their anger over the Amazon founder’s wedding taking over the city, prompting the event’s relocation away from the heart of Venice.

As the global tourism sector recovers to pre-pandemic levels, many of Europe’s historically popular destinations are struggling to cope with the surge in visitors. This phenomenon, often referred to as “over-tourism,” has reached a tipping point where it becomes intolerable for local residents. In 2023, the Greek island of Zakynthos saw an influx of 150 times its permanent population, a dramatic example of the imbalance between visitor numbers and local populations. In 2024, European countries collectively hosted an estimated 756 million tourists, a significant increase of 46 million compared to the previous year.

Tourism brings significant economic benefits, including jobs and revenue. However, it also creates substantial strain on local infrastructure, such as transportation, sanitation, and housing. The rise of short-term rental platforms like Airbnb, VRBO, and Wimdu has exacerbated the problem, as properties previously available for long-term rent are now converted into vacation rentals. This trend has contributed to rising rents, making it increasingly difficult for locals to find affordable housing. In popular destinations, the demand for housing from tourists has pushed prices to the point where residents can no longer afford to live in their own neighborhoods. As tourism continues to grow, businesses catering to visitors — such as souvenir shops and ice cream parlors — are replacing essential stores that residents rely on, further contributing to the problem.

In beach destinations, the annual influx of tourists not only places immense pressure on local resources, such as water supplies, but also threatens the environment. In 2024, the Cyclades island chain in Greece was added to the Heritage-in-Danger list due to the impact of tourism development on the local landscape and culture.

The issue of over-tourism is most prevalent in three types of destinations: Mediterranean beach resorts, Alpine ski towns, and historic cities that attract short-term visitors. Popular spots such as the Greek islands, Croatia’s northern coast, and Austria’s Tirol region are particularly affected, often due to their low year-round populations. In urban areas, the problem can be even more pronounced. Paris, for example, welcomed over 400,000 visitors per square kilometer in 2024 — 20 times the city’s resident population. Other cities, including Athens and Copenhagen, also face significant tourism pressures, with high visitor-to-resident ratios.

Surprisingly, even secondary destinations that were once considered peaceful alternatives to major cities are now feeling the strain of over-tourism. Albania, once one of the Mediterranean’s last somewhat undeveloped destinations, has seen a surge in package tourism, particularly from Central and Eastern Europe. Cities like Porto, once a quieter alternative to Lisbon, have experienced similar surges in tourist numbers, making them almost as crowded as their larger counterparts.

After the pandemic, which caused a significant dip in travel, annual tourist arrivals across Europe are approaching record highs.

However, pinpointing who is responsible for over-tourism has proven challenging. Various stakeholders have been quick to blame each other. Airbnb, for example, has argued that traditional hotels dominate the sector and account for 80% of annual overnight stays in Europe, causing the problem. On the other hand, Tui, Europe’s largest hotel operator, has placed the blame on short-term rental platforms, claiming that they exacerbate the issue by reducing the availability of long-term rental properties. Some short-term rental hosts also argue that the surge in rents and the displacement of local businesses is not solely due to tourists but is a result of the growing presence of “digital nomads” — relatively affluent individuals who work remotely and spend extended periods in cities like Lisbon and Berlin, driving up housing costs and further squeezing out lower-income residents.

At the same time, government officials, while expressing concerns over over-tourism, continue to approve new hotels and airport expansions, further encouraging the influx of visitors. Tourists’ changing behaviors may also be exacerbating the problem. The rise of “bucket-list” travel has led many visitors to rush through famous landmarks, visiting “Instagrammable” spots made popular by social media, such as Rue Cremieux in Paris and Switzerland’s Ponte dei Salti. These locations, already unable to cope with large crowds, are overwhelmed by the sheer volume of tourists.

Despite the negative effects of over-tourism, some governments argue that the economic benefits far outweigh the costs. Tourism is seen as a more environmentally friendly industry compared to heavy manufacturing and is a crucial source of income for many countries. In Greece, for example, the travel industry generated a record €21.7 billion in direct income in 2024, with an additional €42.7 billion in indirect income from visitor spending in restaurants, bars, and other local businesses.

However, for residents living in the most popular tourist destinations, the economic gains are not enough to mitigate the frustrations caused by overcrowding, inflated rents, and the loss of local character. The pandemic offered many residents a temporary reprieve from tourism, allowing them to rediscover their hometowns without the constant presence of visitors. As travel returns to pre-pandemic levels, some people are finding it difficult to give up that relative peace and are becoming increasingly resentful of the crowds.

While the protests and complaints about over-tourism are often directed at tourists themselves, locals’ frustration is often more about the industry that serves them. Many protests invoke social justice themes, with concerns about the impact of large businesses, such as cruise operators and online booking platforms, monopolizing the profits from tourism at the expense of local communities. The tourism industry is often criticized for creating a situation where only a few benefit while the local population bears the brunt of the negative effects.

Governments have begun to respond to these concerns by implementing measures to manage the flow of tourists. In some cities, authorities have introduced taxes or entry fees to deter visitors or at least generate additional income to address the impact of tourism. Venice, for example, now charges an entry fee during the busiest periods of the year. New Zealand has also introduced a significant arrival fee for international visitors. Other measures include restricting the number of days that short-term rental properties can be let or introducing licensing requirements for hosts. While these efforts have had some success, many believe that the measures are still insufficient to address the root causes of over-tourism.

In the end, while tourism remains an essential part of Europe’s economy, the challenge of balancing the needs of visitors with the well-being of local communities continues to grow. Governments will need to find sustainable ways to manage tourism growth and ensure that residents, as well as tourists, benefit from the opportunities tourism provides.