Residents protest against mass tourism in Barcelona on World Tourism Day

As part of World Tourism Day, celebrated on September 27, civil society organizations in Barcelona are protesting against the celebration of a day that "leads to collapse." 

The protest started at 7 pm on the stairs of Barcelona's Cathedral, one of the city's most visited churches, where dozens of people gathered in front of tourists from all over the world visiting the Catalan capital.

According to the organizers of the demonstration, to celebrate World Tourism Day means "to celebrate the multiple crises we live in the climate emergency, the drought, the air pollution, the expulsion of locals from their homes, the commodification of urban spaces, the lack of resources, and labor exploitation."

Daniel Pardo, member of the Neighborhood Assembly for Tourism Decline, mentions that "this day is also used by the industry to wash the image of tourism and the impact it has in every level," referring to aspects such as the housing crisis, the climate crisis, and the "deterioration of residents' lives."

Protestors then walked towards Carrer del Bisbe, next to Barcelona's Cathedral,  and stood for a while, not letting anyone go through. Residents wanted to show passersby "what it feels like to not be able to walk in your own neighborhood."

The demonstration also saw a walk around the square in front of the Cathedral as protestors wanted to "make the space our own, just for some time."