Turismophobia: Europe's Holiday Hatred

Jake Sedgwick analyses the grudges that locals hold for the constant European tourism.

In recent years, many European tourist destinations, such as Barcelona, Lisbon and Milan, have seen an unprecedented wave of anti-tourism protests.The main causes of the demonstrations are due to large increases in local housing prices and the overuse of public spaces surrounding famous landmarks. However, local citizens have shown their outrage in some rather unusual ways.

In Barcelona, an anti-tourist group called Arran, have been slashing tyres of rental cars and breaking windows of five-star hotels. There have been demonstrations featuring banners that read “Barcelona no está en venda” (Barcelona is not for sale), and “El turisme mata els barris” (Tourism kills neighbourhoods). Many Barcelona city officials have been outspoken in their views on the

negative impacts of tourism on their city including comments suggesting that they prefer immigrants over tourists.

In Lisbon, there are bans on selling homes to foreigners and a significantly reduced supply of building permits for new hotels. Increasingly empty bottles, cardboard boxes, plastic cups and containers overflowing with trash have been found littered across streets and pathways of Lisbon. Last year, transport was a real problem in the Portuguese capital, as tickets were few and far between during peak times of the summer.

In Milan, there have been bans on selfie sticks, plastic bottles and other tourist related items in order to avoid tourist related injuries and general

“Local citizens show their outrage in some rather unusual ways”

Tourists crowded on a small quay in Mykonos, Greece

An example of "Turismophobia"

lack of awareness. Further bans have been put in place to stop people paddling public fountains or eating in public in Milan as well as other popular Italian cities such as Rome. In 2017, measures were taken against antisocial behavior to protect residential neighbourhoods after local concerns were raised about the sustainability of tourism in some Milanese districts.

With this in mind, we need to ensure that we achieve a balance between travelling for pleasure and making sure the locals benefit from tourism. The first thing we need to do is to become aware of the effects our actions as tourists have on local people and their environment. Only then can we call ourselves world citizens.