Residents of popular tourist cities are waging a battle to reclaim their quality of life. What began as efforts to implement local regulations—such as bans on wheeled suitcases in Dubrovnik, entry fees in Venice or the removal of digital bus schedules on popular routes in Barcelona—has now escalated into street protests against overtourism. Despite the 670 billion euros that tourism generates annually, locals argue that the influx of visitors during peak months disrupts their lives and overwhelms their cities.
5 View gallery Protesters spraying water on tourists in Barcelona ( Photo: REUTERS / Bruna Casas ) Historically, it was primarily American tourists, armed with strong dollars, who flocked to European destinations in the summer. But the rise of the middle class in countries like India, China, Brazil and the Gulf states has turned these popular vacation spots into places where locals feel increasingly alienated. "In the beginning, it was novel and beneficial to the local economy, with tourists who shared our culture," a resident of a Swiss alpine town told Der Spiegel.
"But now, our town is a gridlock of buses, selfie sticks are everywhere, drones fill the sky and helicopter tours are being organized to bypass the traffic. It’s not the town it used to be, and it certainly doesn’t feel like ours anymore. No amount of income can make up for that.
" 5 View gallery 'Yes to tourism, but not like this': Anti-tourist rally in Mallorca ( Photo: JAIME REINA / AFP ) Last yea.