Barcelona anti-tourism protesters fire water pistols at visitors

Haha!

Go home!

my sister did one of those Viking River Cruises somewhere in Europe with her husband and a bunch of their friends. When she returned she said that it was obvious at most of the cities they stopped in that the locals where really over tourists; she said there was a down-low vibe of 'go away'.

The locals should have filled the water guns with tuna oil.

Make them stink, too!

Where were the good guys with water pistols to stop them?

They don't have real guns in Spain?

Tell us about it.

Now is not the time to be traveling. Americans need to stay in the US. No one likes us anymore because of Trump.

Rising property, goods and services prices in Catalonia caused by an overreliance on the tourism industry negatively affecting locals is probably one of the few issues in the world you can't really trace back to Trump.

But if it’s hot out isn’t that a nice thing to do? How do they know who’s a tourist and who isn’t?

I blame the AFL-CIA

There are so many interesting choices for water gun reservoirs. I knew people who used their own piss. I used bleach, as in CLOROX, but never aimed at faces, just asses and crotches. Preferably teachers. Different vinegars were also fun.

Food Coloring was only for the serious squirters as it was noticed almost immediately.

Yeah. I got suspended for a week. And detentions. But it was so fucking fun. That was about 50 years ago. Almost as much fun as our elaborate scenario prank calls.

r11 is clearly an eldergay Bart Simpson.

"This one's filled with ketchup, this one's with mustard. Now hand it over or you'll be a mess for your date!" 😁

I'm pre Bart but I identify, Kitty.

[quote]In 2019, Barcelona was visited by more than 30 million people, with a daily average of 154,641 visitors. This figure is reflected in the fact that 14% of the city's GDP came from tourist activity and 9% of employment in the city is in that sector

[quote]As a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Spanish tourism businesses registered annual revenue losses of nearly 70 percent in 2020, according to a survey. For 2021, the responding companies operating in this sector saw a revenue decline of around 47 percent in comparison to 2019.

Good luck with that, Barcelona.

You may hate tourists, but without it, they're going to be living substantially lower quality of life.

It's complicated. Rents have increased 70% in the past 10 years; even those who have jobs in the tourism sector struggle to get by because housing is so scare and expensive. Banning Airbnbs won't solve the problem, but it may help some local residents.

[quote]one of the few issues in the world you can't really trace back to Trump

What is one of the businesses that Trump owns, R8? Trump Hotels ring a bell?

Barcelona is a pleasant city but frankly there is little to do there as a mass tourist. When I was young and I found myself there, I fucked. Is that what these tourists are doing? I doubt it.

It was the ferry stop for Ibiza. I used to take a car to ibiza. It was common back then.

Ibiza was altogether a fabulous place for summer fun back in the day. So much better than the Spanish mainland coast.

The beaches, the landscape, the people, the amazing music and clubs. I suppose Ibiza is ruined too but I dunno, I bet it's still fun if you're young and like clubbing.

There was an obvious anti-tourist sentiment in Barcelona when I visited a decade ago. Or perhaps they just hated me. Of course, both things can be true.

[quote]How do they know who’s a tourist and who isn’t?

r9 = American with the usual lack of self-awareness

I don't think he owns a hotel or golf course in Barcelona, r16

I visited two years ago and everyone was polite. I keep to myself when I'm traveling.

Bilbao is nicer anyway.

Barcelona has a likable grungy feel.

No, R20, but the tourism issue isn't limited to Barcelona, either. And he does or did own hotels in locations where anti-tourism is a thing.

Fuck those people. I'll go to Santander and take a tour of the Cantabria villages.

I know they detest all of the LOWER CLASS Brits that have been flocking to Spain on Holiday and buying homes there.

r26 You're about a decade and a BREXIT too late. Also you think lower class Brits are going to Barcelona? Did you misread it as Magaluf?

Did someone ask for trashy Brits living in and visiting Spain?

I have one word for you:

BENIDORM!

Don't leave us in suspense, R17. Was Spanish cock worth the trip?

R28- He good looking.

I would do him.

It would be sweet if karma gave these vile people cancer or worse. The intention is not a protest. It’s to hurt people.

R19, are you assuming that all or even most tourists in Barcelona are Americans? That seems unlikely.

[quote] It would be sweet if karma gave these vile people cancer or worse. The intention is not a protest. It’s to hurt people.

Karma?

What are you talking about?

It's their country. If they don't want British and other tourists there, that's their choice.

R29 Oh honey. All Mediterranean countries offer plenty of fine cocks.

Payback for Latin America.

Good for them. It's an effective vehicle to draw attention to the fact of over-tourism in Barcelona. It will receive a lot more press than a street demonstration in front of the office of tourism or the city hall -- as has been done for years now. It will have the effect of travelers taking pause when considering Barcelona.

It's not that tourists are hated at an individual level (well, except fleetingly in the case of those too stupid to move out of the way as people are blowing bicycle horns and shouting at them to stop standing in the middle of everything so that people cannot pass). The reason is that Barcelona is completely overrun with AirBnB and other touristic apartments. People who used to live in nice quiet buildings now find themselves in a very thin minority of owner-residents; their neighbors are loud tourists who break the elevators, stumble home drunk at 5AM for a loud after party, make clouds of smoke from microwaving something that should not have been microwaved, and then the attendant 'housekeeping services' who all have keys and codes to the buildingś front door, a dozen different in and out every day with piles of dirty linens to be replaced with clean, huge bags of garbage, and generally a great increase in traffic in and out and noise, all from people who don't live in the building or have any care for it. Some buildings are now de facto hotels, with one or two real residents who haven't fled yet. Prices have gone beyond the reach of locals and apartments are now bought in large measure by investors for AirBnB purposes: an apartment that might rent for Є2000 on a long-term lease can generate Є350 a day as a touristic apartment - a huge fucking difference that completely steers the market and changes neighborhoods for any locals not rich enough to not care.

When a once established residential neighbourhood becomes significantly populated by groups of tourists in the city for 2, 3, 4, 5 days at most, grocery stores, fruit and vegetable sellers, local coffee bars (that don serve coffee in 32 oz. cups with lids and international branding) disappear, the need for local services shops wanes, local restaurants are replaced by new glitzier shopfronts for restaurants with blandly international menus and all signage in English: El Rincón de Tres Hermanos becomes Hapi Sushi! In short, the neighborhood goes to shit --unaffordable shit-- for the people who actually live in the city.

I live in a city of 700,000 with over 3 million visitors a year and it's the same thing. Tourists sometimes think that beautiful old cities exist for no purpose other than tourists. In my city they represent 11% of GDP, a not inconsiderable figure but is that enough to destroy the city as a place to live? For too many years cities have been talking about 'smart tourism' yet practically setting up free blowjob booths to attract tourists, any tourists; city governments have allowed rampant speculation in AirBnB type apartments to displace real residents, have said yes to every plan for yet another 5-star hotel, and yet are vehemently opposed to tourist tax of even a three or four euros per tourist -- fucking nothing but they feign concern about driving tourists away because the city council members and their friends are owners of hundreds of touristic apartments and are in on the money grab.

I think it's good when frustrated residents take matters into hand and do what city officials and politicians are afraid to touch: 'smart tourism' is not a half-million new tourists over last yearś numbers.

Huge applause for R36!

You really nailed it.

[quote] Collboni, who said rents had increased 68% in the past 10 years, with the cost of buying a house up 38%.

Easier to scapegoat tourists who visit, spend money, and then go home than it is to talk about the increasing numbers of third world invaders supported by the socialist state who will never leave

And it's Barthelona. They get mad if you don't lisp.

Pull your head out of your right-wing asshole, R38.

Read R36 and maybe you'll actually learn something, rather than regurgitating right-wing MAGAT puke.

The video footage of tourists getting squirted, is hilarious.

There's a great documentary on tourism: The Last Tourist. It used to stream on Hulu, but it appears it's now on Tubi (free!!!).

It's odd that these countries welcome virtually unlimited of poor, unassimilating migrants who need their host countries to provide them with food, shelter, medical care, etc...

and yet they despise tourists looking to come for two weeks, spend a ton of money, and go home.

I'm a native New Yorker and, despite their annoying habits, I love tourists. They tend to stay in their tourist enclaves, spending money, supporting Broadway and museums and retail, and then they go home. Thanks for helping to support my hometown financially, tourists! Come back again soon!

Uh, maybe they should be more concerned about mass migration.

Woke ideology gone off the rails. Some digital nomads and foodies are the least of their problems.

When I was in Menorca last year, our young taxi driver was complaining about the French buying up all the property and driving up all the housing prices. We checked out the listing properties, and he was not wrong- prices were on par with Los Angeles.

Only poor trash go to Europe in the summer.

Jewish tourists should certainly look elsewhere

I totally get it. This is happening in other places as well. Cornwall, England is a gorgeous, temperate county at the end of the southwestern tip of Britain. Over the last two decades, so much property has been bought by out-of-town investors, prices have skyrocketed, the area is clogged with tourists, the locals are pissed off. I don't blame them. There is no affordable housing.

“Get ouuut nooooww!”

[quote]Uh, maybe they should be more concerned about mass migration.

[quote}Easier to scapegoat tourists who visit, spend money, and then go home than it is to talk about the increasing numbers of third world invaders supported by the socialist state who will never leave

Ah, those Americans, always so free with their advice and telling others how to do things, having sorted their own affairs out so perfectly.

[quote]When I was in Menorca last year, our young taxi driver was complaining about the French buying up all the property and driving up all the housing prices. We checked out the listing properties, and he was not wrong- prices were on par with Los Angeles.

Menorca expensive? Say it isn't so.

And, what if the USA did this....

Stupid. Spray your local government and your fellow citizens renting Airbnbs.

I was there a few weeks ago I saw no evidence of anti-tourist feelings but I but see a little graffiti a few times outside of the city in much less obvious places that visitors might get to. Maybe that's random young people looking towards Barcelona and not wanting it to spread.

R31- What does the vice president have to do with over tourism in Spain?

The USA would never do this to tourists because we want the money. So do the Spanish which is why they haven't done enough to control the summer crowds.

Maybe countries should limit how many visitors can visit each year.

I also think that people should not be allowed to buy more than a limited amount of rental properties anywhere.

People should not be able to buy properties in other countries unless they are going to live on the property.

[quote] Easier to scapegoat tourists who visit, spend money, and then go home than it is to talk about the increasing numbers of third world invaders supported by the socialist state who will never leave

Your so-called "third word invaders" emigrate to WORK.

[quote]Stupid. Spray your local government and your fellow citizens renting Airbnbs.

AirBnBs are no longer a homegrown side hustle, the operational costs make profitability impossible for.most owners of 5 or fewer apartments. Many owners have 50, 100, 150 properties or more and don't live in the same city or even in the same country. Some owners are consortia of owners who have never seen the properties except in photos; they certainly don't care about being good neighbors and their identities are protected by right as property owners. The way to get their attention is to tell that that their touristic apartment license will expire within two years, none will be renewed and no new licenses granted.

But no need to feel too bad about the poor investor/owners, they have bleed the properties for handsome streams of income and, even if a glut of properties start flooding the market, the.prices are high enough to sustain substantial price discounts.and still make a good return after sale costs.

After years of resistance, the city government in Venice finally allowed a "controversial" tourist tax: a whopping €5 only on day trippers. A drop in the bucket to say the least.

Barcelona has done well by way of limited hotel rooms and the absence off thousands of AirBnBs so that the expense will make tourist numbers will self limiting.

Barcelona is not a starving city hungry for foreign tourist €s, it doesn't need to displace its citizens to distant communities so that tourists can have a playground all to themselves.

R59, why not spray the AirBnB owners, then? Why blame the tourists? Just spitballing here, but.... could it be that these protestors are too chickenshit to take on anyone with any power?

[quote] Maybe countries should limit how many visitors can visit each year.

That's what Bhutan does!

You sound like a real treasure, r11.

Catalonia used to be Spain's most industrialized region and one of Europe's industrial powerhouses, but since the 1990s the local bourgeoisie, alongside the autonomous Generalitat government and the central Spanish government have engaged in a de-industrialization policy that has shifted all manufacturing activity to Madrid, while turning Barcelona into an underemployment paradise. Initially, nobody objected because they were sold the idea that Barcelona would become a global city and Catalonian culture and identity would receive international projection, but after 30 years they've realized that all they've gotten is uncontrolled immigration, policies that are increasingly hostile to Catalan culture and identity, a lower quality of life and increasingly precarious jobs.

Yes, there are still many corporations in Catalonia and there is enormous economic activity, but this is based on exploitation and unlike before, most of the local population don't see any benefits (and among the locals, I am not including Spanish immigrants, of course). Most highly educated people either work for the government, fight for corporate jobs or leave for countries where salaries are better. SMEs are notorious for paying badly and exploiting workers in the worst way imaginable, while the economy has become dominated by the tourism services sector, which places an enormous strain on resources and provides very few benefits to anyone. Moreover, many "tourists" only arrive in Catalonia to take advantage of its superb public healthcare system, where they get incredibly expensive treatments without paying a penny and are given all sorts of financial support. All of this is unsustainable and locals are increasingly frustrated, even though their anger is entirely misplaced: the ones to blame for this situation are the wealthy and the political class, not random tourists.

Regarding rents, real estate speculation has always been a problem in Barcelona, and it was allowed to get out of control during the 90s. Many of the people who illegally rent their multiple properties to tourists are politicians and members of the bourgeoisie, in a desperate bid to extract every possible penny out of the city and its inhabitants. Finally, there is the problem of low quality tourism, which has been allowed to grow until it has become extremely problematic. Wealthy tourists tend to go to hotels, but the sort of people who want to get drunk, do drugs and party hard are a general nuisance and tend to rent properties for a few days, because it's cheaper than hotels and they have less restrictions - this is also a problem that drives locals crazy, because these low-cost holidaymakers cause all sorts of conflicts.

Finally, there is a HUGE drive to shift tourism away from Barcelona toward Madrid, due to the Spanish government wanting to centralize everything and economically strangle Catalonia and thus, prevent it from being able to become successfully independent.

It's a complex situation, but it will becoming increasingly common in Europe as most people realize that we're becoming an oversized theme park and our former prosperity is being slowly dismantled before our eyes by the US, which is trying to slow down its own decline at our expense. Meanwhile, we've severed all diplomatic and commercial ties with Russia, whose cheap energy was the source of our industrial prowess, and we're realising that we've been reduced to allowing scum to roam our streets and engage in savage behaviour with the excuse of "visiting" our countries, in order to feed ourselves.

R60: I explained already why it's difficult to target owners. You can't pop down to the Recorder of Deeds and make a nice list of them; their names are protected by privacy rights. Many don't not live anywhere near Barcelona nor even in Spain.

And why not target tourists? It's more effective in helping people decide to stay home, which is rather the point to attack the machine that pro-business city governments went out of their way to over-encourage - to the detriment of local residents and local business owners.

The big tourist cities in Spain are becoming strip malls of cash machines where storefronts used to be, luggage lockers, and brunch restaurants which no one in Spain wants besides English speaking tourists. Beyond that it's chockablock AirBnBs, ground floor stores are being sold as "potential touristic apartment conversion opportunities."

The people in Barcelona in that article are doing what they feel they need to do. It's a publicity campaign much more than a campaign to wet tourist's clothing. If you think that's "chickenshit" then it's a difference of opinion. Politeness and procedure have not worked too well for them until very recently

r52 we'd use real guns duh! USA USA USA

R64, what the fuck are the tourists supposed to do about it? They're symptoms of shitty, greedy laws made by shitty, greedy lawmakers. They're not the cause. But these cowardly, childish fucks target the tourists. The result will be that the better sort of tourist -- well-behaved, with money to spend -- will stay away, and brawling shitkickers will continue to come, because they don't give a fuck what the locals do or think. They're happy to make trouble.

The government, the laws, and the lack of enforcement are the problem.

The "tourists" visiting America should try Spain. Then everybody would be happy

There are more than enough Latin Americans causing VERY serious problems in Spain, R67. Everybody hates them and no, they are not Spanish just because they speak the language. Spanish people are white European.

It's the goddamn massive ships.

R63 "..the local bourgeoisie.." speaking to use from 1925.

They would have gotten doused with my drink. Don't take people's shit.

Some bitch slaps were in order. They would never for a second try that shit with their newest citizens.

[quote] Everybody hates them and no, they are not Spanish just because they speak the language. Spanish people are white European.

So you're saying the problem is racism?

In some cases it is, R73. However, in many other cases it's just that the worst of Latin America has come to the developed world, and the Spanish government in particular is allowing them to remain in the country because it can use them as a means to drive the public's anger and discontentment with their awful economic and social policies, not to mention that many of these Latin American people are members of criminal organizations that launder their money through Spanish banks.

People who would not have been able to get jobs in their countries because they're career criminals have been allowed to come to Europe to work for the tourism industry, and they commit all sorts of crimes. Spanish people hate them but, since they have become an important electoral block, political parties protect them. People stupidly tend to forget that Spain and Latin America are VERY different and a common language doesn't make a common culture, common values and an easy integration.

[quote] The result will be that the better sort of tourist -- well-behaved, with money to spend -- will stay away, and brawling shitkickers will continue to come, because they don't give a fuck what the locals do or think. They're happy to make trouble.

I totally agree with this.

Good for them. Locals all over the world are growing tired of tourists, especially Americans who are almost always entitled and disrespectful to others culture.

The locals are over it. Many parts of Italy are sick of it too. Paris loathes us.

In many ways, I do not blame the people of Barcelona. The AirBnBs are driving rents up. And it must suck to be the neighbor next door to one where you have a revolving door of visitors every week or so.

Tourists also spend money, and it's good for the local economy.

Can you shoot back when they assault you with a water gun?

[quote] Can you shoot back when they assault you with a water gun?

MAGA!

Spaniards are SO dramatic.

Reduced tourism through hostility to tourists might be the only way citizens can subvert foreign ownership and the proliferation of AirBnB arrangements.

It's a huge problem in Canada as well and we can't possibly have anywhere near the number of visitors as the old world of Europe. We have a serious housing crisis largely exacerbated by Airbnb. It can only be worse in cities like Barcelona.

According to this article, R76, it's the Brits who are most hated in Spain. The article calls them "toxic."

In every survey I've seen, Brits and Germans top most countries' lists of most hated tourists. Yanks don't really even rank.

Yes, the article is a few years old, but the survey was taken at the height of MAGA, for what it's worth.

R77 so everyone claims. Yet nothing gets better. It only keeps getting worse.

That’s a lie fed to you.

The heavy tourism is raising prices all over Spain to the point the locals can’t afford rent or food, just like the states now. It’s becoming a global issue.

R82 a biased list. Yanks very much are hated all over the world.

R85, not nearly as much as Brit or German tourists because we don't travel nearly as much nor as often.

Yanks being hated is a given. Brits and Germans now too. Other ethnicities get more mention due to them being the latest to behave as badly as Americans, Germans, Brits.

In the Spanish speaking Caribbean we Quebecois have a horrible reputation for being loud vulgar drunks. We are known as "Los Tabernacos"

I believe anglo Canadians are not perceived as badly but their day will come. Fat dirty frat boy types.

[quote] Yanks being hated is a given. Brits and Germans now too. Other ethnicities get more mention due to them being the latest to behave as badly as Americans, Germans, Brits.

Don't forget the Chinese.

They're vulgar, crass and rude.

Absolute PIGS.

Hated around the world.

Yanks are hated but their Dollars are absolutely adored. It would be so much simpler if the tourists would just fly over and throw bundles of cash out the plane to the locals

Even china's own news reporters have called them the "most unwelcome tourists."

Add as many as you like r88. I only mentioned what I was (mostly) sure of. I'm sure there are others whose cultural pride make them just as bad. Regardless of race.

Post pandemic, I remember articles about how the Parisians hated the Chinese tourists. When I was in Myanmar and Thailand, they were awful- hordes of them not respecting the temples, littering, pushing you out of the way to be with their group, spitting everywhere.

Watch the video at R90.

Even their own government criticizes them for everything you mentioned, R92.

Vile!

[quote]The result will be that the better sort of tourist -- well-behaved, with money to spend -- will stay away

I'm taking a cruise sailing out of Barcelona later this year. We've already booked our flight, planning to arrive in Barcelona a couple of days ahead of time. We thought it would be nice to see the city and might not have another opportunity to do that. But if the Barcelonans don't want us (or our money) there, once we arrive we'll be happy to hop on a flight to somewhere else that is more welcoming. Won't even need to leave the airport. We can fly back to Barcelona the morning of the cruise and just go straight to the cruise terminal. No skin off my nose. I mean, what is there to see in Barcelona anyway other than that ugly-ass church?

[quote]we'll be happy to hop on a flight to somewhere else that is more welcoming. Won't even need to leave the airport. We can fly back to Barcelona the morning of the cruise and just go straight to the cruise terminal.

We know how to fuck up those plans, maricon.

I'm aiming a water cannon full of liquid diarrhea at r94. Aiming for the face.

That’s the issue right there. R94 displays it. American entitlement in full display.

At some point, people would rather you stick your money up your ass than take it and have to deal with your nonsense.

[quote]We know how to fuck up those plans, maricon.

Great. If killing your tourist industry doesn't cause your economy to collapse, maybe destroying commercial air travel will give it an extra push. With the added benefit of punishing your own citizens (who I presume must not travel)!

“Tourist industry” shouldn’t even be a thing. Many of these places very much can do well without tourism. We’ve been fed a lie by American elites that keeps spreading globally. They do not even do anything to help their own people with all that money made. Instead prices are rising and the locals can’t afford to live anymore. How is that benefiting anyone in Barcelona?

All you’re doing is putting more money in the pockets of politicians, not actually helping the people.

OK, R97. So what is that you want? I thought you wanted us to stay away. So that's what I said I would do. Why is that a problem for you?

[quote]Yanks are hated but their Dollars are absolutely adored. It would be so much simpler if the tourists would just fly over and throw bundles of cash out the plane to the locals

That's the popular American opinion (of the U.S. as Great Benefactor), but the message in Barcelona is contrary to that assertion. Barcelona is a prosperous city and if it lost half or 1/3 or even all of its tourist income, that12% of GDP could be compesensated for by more diverse employment opportunities (not just tour guides and AirBnB housekeeping services by businesses that serve local residents not tourists.) Itś not the US of A that keeps Barcelona or Spain afloat, or really anywhere in Europe.

Americans like to think that quaint, down at the heels, simple European peasanty --poor things-- are lying in wait for American tourists and their fat wallets and big American tips, the truth is that you're thinking of war-starved orphans wetting their pants with glee to take a chocolate bar from the hands of an American GI, those days are 80 years past. Spain, France, Italy have huge international tourist numbers (bigger than the U.S.) and yet their GDP from tourism ranges from 7.5% to 10.5%. People there have other things to do than scream with glee when the Americans arrive. Americans are a small part of the picture, representing less than 5% of visitors to any of these countries. Your picture of big American daddy rolling into town with greenbacks spilling out of his American Tourister are greatly inflated.

R101 thank you!!!! I’m so sick of Americans and their deluded narcissistic attitudes

The Sagrada Família is highest attended attraction in all of Spain, with close to 4 million people visiting each year. 1 million people visit Casa Battló. At 31€ a pop minimum for the basic general visit. Under 12s are free.13-17, students, 65+ have discounts of 3-6€ to look forward to.

Europe and the UK will be an islamic caliphate in 5 years anyway, so who cares about their childishness. Water pistols? Oh, please.

Well, that should keep the tourists away, R104.

Imagine being pelted with cherries in Traverse City.

You should get out of Wisconsin, more often, R104.

Or better, don't.

Wisconsin is one of the 3 whitest states in America and has a low crime rate

Actually, R107, I've been to Europe at least 20 times. I've been watching the increasing islamization of Europe since the late 90s. You're allowed to keep your head up your ass, your choice. Oh, and I live in NYC, though I have always enjoyed my time in Wisconsin.

Catalans are extreme Left wingers. These attacks on tourists are shameful. It's their government they should be fighting, not some stupid couple from Ohio who wanted to see the Sagrada Familia.

Cutting off the nose.....

The Scandinavian countries are the rudest to tourists.

I liked Madrid, Seville, Pamplona, Cuenca, Santander (r25), and and especially Toledo, but never made it to Barcelona. I prefer Portugal, but maybe that's because I didn't visit the Spanish Mediterranean coast.

Are cruise ship tourists the cause of rising housing costs, or is Barcelona simply another target of predatory purchasing conglomerates?

Barcelona is completely overrated. Other than the Gaudi buildings it has nothing to offer than most other Spanish cities don't.

I’ll bet these protestors love all the third-world Muslims setting up residence though.

Will you PLEASE SHUT THE FUCK UP already, you whining cunt R115.

We get it.

You don't like Muslims.

We heard you the first 10,000 times.

But you keep whining, and whining and whining, and fucking WHINING about it.

Just SHUT THE FUCK UP already!!!!!!

We're sick of you!

You sound incredibly sophisticated and well-informed, R94. It will be Barcelona’s loss if you take your fat American ass elsewhere.

Fuck that shit. I'll be packing.

I wish I had a fat ass, R117. Alas, I have a flat ass.

Amdericans were hugely hated as tourists in the 50s and 60s and 70s, because we were wealthy and arrogant when most of Europe was still crippled by the afteraffects of war. But now when i travel i hear repeatedly that Americans are far from the most hated tourists these days--we've been displaced by the Brits (Brits love going to hot climates and getting stinking drunk and obnoxious) and Russians (ditto), and also the Chinese (who are bad at observing manners and customs in other cultures).

Also, why does it trigger you so much that I don't want to visit some place where I'm not welcomed? I thought that's what you wanted. I would assume that would make you happy.

I can’t speak for anybody else but what made me laugh (“triggers” is putting it a little high) is the stupidity of someone who has never been there but still reduces Barcelona to “that ugly-ass church”.

Tell me that you’re a clueless American without saying that you’re a clueless American.

Enjoy your cruise - I’m sure that it will have a magnificent buffet.

Well to be honest, I did want to see "that ugly-ass church" along with whatever else Barcelona has to offer. Which is why I planned for a few days to be there before the cruise. But I've been told I won't be welcomed, so I guess I'll have to miss out.

And thanks for the best wishes on the cruise. I anticipate that I will enjoy it!

Vicky Cristina Barcelona.

"That ugly-ass church" is far from the only attraction Barcelona has to offer.

You should always visit European cities in the off-season if you can. The crowds are smaller, the temperatures and lower, and the locals are friendlier.

R97, are Americans the ones vacationing in Spain en masse??

Those are usually Brits and northern Europeans.

And hasn't Spain (Madrid) been trying for the Olympics for, like, the last five quads?

I guess I can see how tourists can be confused when on one hand, you have the government rolling out the red carpet for tourists, and on the other hand, you have a bunch of ornery lispers shooting water guns at them.

I guess this won't go over very well with the locals!

[quote]a bunch of ornery lispers shooting water guns at them.

There is no ceceo in Catalan.

R130, touche.

But maybe these Catalans would be better served spraying water-guns at their elected officials and Tourism Board instead?

Their government is giving a very different, mixed message than what they're trying to get across.

I hope the gorgeous countries and cities on this continent will simply limit the number of tourists that can enter the country. Yes, it goes against the right of free movement, but.. Something's got to change.

Thailand and other tropical paradises (Goa) feel the same way about Euros gobbling up all the real estate and space on their pristine beaches.

so what do these "locals" do when they themselves are tourists in NYC, London, Paris, Rome, etc?🤔

R134, Spaniards seem to be either largely poor (no disposable income to travel) or insular. I don't think they'd even make the top 10 list of Europeans who travel frequently abroad.

[quote] Spaniards seem to be either largely poor (no disposable income to travel) or insular. I don't think they'd even make the top 10 list of Europeans who travel frequently abroad.f

Why would they need to travel, when everyone is going to see what's in their country?

Spain is probably the best country to visit in Europe. Bar none.

Beautiful scenery, lots of culture, great weather, and lovely people.

They have it all. And everyone else wants it.

There really is no reason for Spaniards to travel anywhere else.

[quote] Why would they need to travel, when everyone is going to see what's in their country?

That is the very definition of insular and provincial.

Spain's not bad, I agree, though. They've got the 4th best cuisine in the Mediterranean. ;)

R3 You're never going on a holiday abroad, I assume?

That is not true, R135. Many middle and upper class Spaniards travel all over the world, where they behave like every other tourist. Just ask the Portuguese how they feel about loud, rude and inconsiderate Spanish tourists who go about Portugal saying things such as 'we could easily invade this country' and 'this should be Spain' (hint: the Portuguese also hate American tourists). Travelling is very much a status indicator and anyone who can afford it, will do so even if it's only to signify to their peers that they're part of the group.

Years ago, you couldn't go to Czech Republic, Croatia, Turkey or Greece without hearing Spanish every few minutes, and the same happens with London and Edinburgh every Summer, as well as France and Italy, which are the top destinations chosen by the Spanish to go on holiday. And this is one of the reasons why the protesters are being criticized in Spain itself: many of them endlessly complain about tourism but then, turn around and travel en masse to other countries and annoy the locals just as badly as tourists annoy them while visiting Spain.

Europeans love to whine about bullshit, the Germans are experts at this too, it keeps them all from dealing with their real problems.

Also, I understand them. Air BNB should be limited concerning who owns the flats and rents them out. (it shouldn't be possible that sonsie rents out a100 flats from abroad and drives up prices.) That's a problem for legislation and maybe also for the EU (who does nothing obviously.) An even more glaring example is Venice that is basically Disneyland now. Nobody actually lives there; cruise ships dump hordes of people who spend nothing and leave garbage. The city council, regional council and the government is to blame because they were greedy beyond any sensible measure. Whatever they're doing now is too little too late. It's like finally feeding a goldfish, just that it's died in the meantime. It's not the fault of tourists who sometimes save years to see a city.

I don’t blame the locals for being angry, There has to be a way to improve the situation. Mass tourism in Europe is nothing like tourism in NYC. I rarely see huge tourist groups in NY and there aren’t entire areas overrun by drunken foreigners. You see mostly family and students in the tourist spots and that’s it. They affect life in the city to a very small degree. Nothing like Barcelona.

I travel a lot and the Chinese seem to be the most disliked. Brits are up there too. .

Unlike the wonderful Americans who just suck it up and soldier on, R140?

[quote] Mass tourism in Europe is nothing like tourism in NYC.

Trashy Brits wouldn't dare act that way in NYC.

Then again, they probably coudn't afford to stay in NYC.

The trashiest chavs end up going to Spain and Greece because of the low fares and cheap holidays offered to those locations.

Then they export that unique brand of British drunkenness and lowlife behavior, that makes them so scorned in Spain and Greece.

They are a HUGE part of the problem.

[quote]Spaniards seem to be either largely poor (no disposable income to travel) or insular. I don't think they'd even make the top 10 list of Europeans who travel frequently abroad.

Not at all, R135. The three European countries whose citizens travel most are Germany, France, and Spain.

[quote]Amdericans were hugely hated as tourists in the 50s and 60s and 70s, because we were wealthy and arrogant when most of Europe was still crippled by the afteraffects of war. But now when i travel i hear repeatedly that Americans are far from the most hated tourists these days--

Outset of a couple trips as a child, I can't speak to the reception of Americans in Europe in the 1950s-1960s-1970s. But among the 4 most visited European countries, American visitors represent only 3% to under 5% of tourists in Spain, France, Italy, and Germany. Living in Europe I can say that Americans don't always go unnoticed, but hated? In their relatively small numbers they would really have to work overtime to make a worse impression that Brits, Chinese, and Russians at the top of the list. Germans haven't always enjoyed a good reputation as travellers, but for some years they have been pushed down the unnoticed part of the lists by other nationalities.

In Spain, Italy, France, Belgium, Germany, and Portugal I've never heard people ganging up on Americans. They may observe that they can be loud or make themselves known by their noticeable American ways, and while they may freely condemn Trump or American violence or fast food diets, I don't see that expressed as detesting Americans as a whole.

I think Americans abroad often do go out of their way to be noticed, and if they engage you in any sort of conversation they will immediately yell you they are from Flemming's Craw, a little town about 90 miles from Sioux City, etc, etc, as if the rest of the world should take great interest. It's very strange to see but I really do think there is something in the water that makes them think that other countries should till it the red carpet for American guests. Americans overestimate how much they are the subject of great curiosity and at the same time take offense that foreign folk don't take as much interest in them as they should - therefore "they must be stuck up and hate Americans!"

Where are you from R146?

All countries produce their fair share of good and bad people, the obnoxious and the cultured. I've worked in a tourist industry. I've learned it's impossible to make broad generalizations about whole countries. Yes, I've met the lound Americans, the drunk Brits, the snobby French, the rude Spanish, the annoying Brazilians, the cold Canadians but you know what they were always in in the minority. Most people are fine.

One thing that is true is overtourism. I understand the frustrations of people from Barcelona. Cities should be for the people who live in them day in and day out, when times are good and when they are bad. And Air B&B and all the other similar apps are just evil.

R147, I'm from the US and lived there most of my life before moving to Europe several; years ago.

Here's one of a series of Tracey Ullman skits about American tourists in London. Again, though it's not exactly a flattering observation, it's presented more as a funny curiosity than as some reason to hate American tourists.

R7 you can't be more wrong. Peopls on Europe might not have very high opinion on Trump, but I believe that most approve of his isolationist politics. It is imperialist war mongering politics conducted by Dems or neocon Republicans that they dread.

Bejesus, the brain dead (see R150) have made themselves a cozy if crazy nest here at The DL.

I went to Mykonos for the first time in 1980. The Brits were disgusting, obnoxious drunks even back then, and usually by 3 PM. The first time I went to London I was shocked by all the disgusting, obnoxious English drunks. They also brag about how wasted they got and laugh about their outrageous behavior. They really have no shame when it comes to drunkeness.

R152 while nobody would argue with you about British inebriation, you do lose credibility somewhat when referencing your experience on Mykonos 44 years ago.

It might be time for your next international holiday.

R152 you are talking complete crap, there were no drunken Brits in Mykonos 44 years ago. Mykonos in those days was still mostly a laid back island attracting hippies and some international celebrities. During the 80’s it became known as more of a gay island.

Now fuck off away from here with your hysterical pearl clutching lies.

But r99, housing is becoming out of reach for many even in non-touristy locations, or at least less touristy than where cruise ships visit. Rising prices can't all be the fault of disembarking Americans.

I speak as one who once spent summers traveling by car throughout Europe. I hope the impression I left, if any, was one of admiration and respect, and that I added to the local economies in my small way.

R155 travelling by car throughout Europe and sampling local cock along the way, of course you contributed to the local economy.

You shared your seed lovingly and willingly to those in need. If only there were more thankless travellers like you around today.

[quote]housing is becoming out of reach for many even in non-touristy locations, or at least less touristy than where cruise ships visit. Rising prices can't all be the fault of disembarking Americans [in Spain]

Yes, the numbers don't match up. Tourist ships and all other sources of American tourist add up to only 5% of Spain's tourists. That percentage is growing, but.... Only 5%

Likewise immigrants from the US (like me) and digital nomads don't add up to huge numbers either. Estimates of the number of Americans resident in Spain (from both Spanish and American govt sources) have risen sharply...to 42,000 as 2023 reports. With a population of 47.8M, that's only 0.08%. If the trend continues, the population of Americans and former Americans might reach 1/10th of 1% in a few years. It doesn't seem too dangerous a figure or a trend based on the numbers.

And Spain is the #2 destination for immigrating Americans and the same or similar for American digital nomads.

If the headlines make it sound like an massive migration, it's not.

It all goes to show that the number of Americans who move to other countries is very small indeed.

R152 I experienced the same thing in Sydney. Mumbling drunk young and old walking around Kings Cross at 6 on a weekday. Gross.

AM or PM R158?

[quote] The Sagrada Família is highest attended attraction in all of Spain

And it's as ugly as fuck.

This is a good video explaining why residents are so pissed at tourists.

It's definitely misplaced anger, as someone above mentioned.

R132- They're protesting against all of the tourists who stay for a week but these same people don't seem to mind all of the illegal immigrants pouring into Spain and elsewhere.

[quote]They're protesting against all of the tourists who stay for a week but these same people don't seem to mind all of the illegal immigrants pouring into Spain and elsewhere.

Different fucking issues, idiot(s), and unless you live in Barcelona, what fucking worry is Barcelona's illegal immigration to you? In 2023 the total estimate for all "irregular immigration" to Spain was 57,000, twice that of 2022. Still, 57,000 is 1/10 of 1% of Spain's population.

I'm deeply worried that every time a button falls off the shirt of a Barcelonan's shirt, that his first thought is not to blame illegal immigration.

R163 you are clearly not European or you're living in one of the districts where immigration doesn't occur. Classes here consist up to 90 percent of immigrants. That's not good or bad, it's just a fact. It brings its unique challenges. The "it's only one percent, look" crowd hasn't helped at all. Average doesn't equate people's personal experience.

Immigration is tied to housing and AirBnB, though, at least in NYC. Many hotels are now partially or totally converted to shelters for migrants, increasing the demand for AirBnB and other hotel alternatives.

As for housing, there have been nearly 200,000 migrants to the city in the last few years. They will have to be housed somewhere. Their children will have to be educated somewhere. They will have to get medical care somewhere. There aren't enough new housing units, new schools, or new hospitals and clinics to easily absorb the sudden influx.

Tourists don't need housing for more than a week or two. Their children don't need to go to local schools. They seldom need medical attention. They aren't burdening a city the way that migrants do.

"If you're a New Yorker living on a block with a migrant shelter and you don't like it, or if your child's school is now struggling with the migrant influx, spray the face of some random migrants! Shout at them that they're unwelcome and should go home! After all, it's their fault that they're here! It's definitely not the responsibility of Federal, State, or local government at any level!" -- Geniuses in Barcelona

R162 R164 R165 do you EVER get tired of being a fucking BORE?

You repeat the same old shit about immigrants, over, and over, and over again.

The same old right-wing bullshit, meant to stir up hatred against immigrants.

But guess what?

We're all SICK AND TIRED of listening to your fucking WHINING!!!!

If you're so unhappy, why don't you just kill yourself already, and stop bothering the rest of us.

[quote] you are clearly not European or you're living in one of the districts where immigration doesn't occur. Classes here consist up to 90 percent of immigrants.

Oh. I live in Europe, R164, though evidently not in your banlieue, [R163]. Wherever "here" is, it doesn't bear much semblance to my country which is among the countries who have taken in the.most immigrants, legal and illegal.

R154, yes, you are correct, there was not even one single drunken Brit on Mykonos 44 years ago. Not a one!!

- R152

R168 missing the point.

UK tourists vow to 'cancel' Ibiza, Majorca, Lanzarote, Tenerife, promising to take their public vomiting elsewhere.

But isn't tourism the only significant industry in those places, R170? I understand being annoyed by tourists who behave obnoxiously, but when you live in a resort area, you're going to have a lot of tourists. What is the goal of the protestors? Not to destroy the local economy, I assume.

Except it's far from the only significant industry in Barcelona, or Madrid, or Sevilla, or Valencia, R171. In those largest cities and cities with most tourists by number, the percentage contribution of tourism to GDP is under 5%.

5% is enough that, were it to disappear entirely - which no one is advocating - it would be felt, some belt-tightening and investment in alternatives might be required, but there would be no starvation, no ruination.

Barcelona, for instance, is slightly (and surprisingly to me) more dependent than Seville on tourism (3.9% vs 3.5%), but clearly at those rates they would survive were it to drop to zero.

In Mallorca, an economy where tourism is more evident as an aspect of economy, the contribution of tourism yo GDP is only 6.3%. Again, Mallorca's millionaires would get along just fine and the rest of Mallorcans could adjust, too.

Lanzarote, Ibiza, Tenerife...I'm sure the contribution of the tourist industry in those places is equal or higher that that of Mallorca, but it could be quite substantially higher without being ruinously so. The economies even of those places is not so touristic-centric as it might appear from a distance.

Tenerife and Lanzarote and some of the cheaper tourist towns that are magnets to Brits and their taste for the dirt cheap, all-inclusive boozy holiday are those most likely to feel a sting if there is one.

Interesting, R172, I am surprised tourism only contributes to 5-7% in GDP in those places.

Spain set for protests over tourism | BBC News

[quote]They have it all. And everyone else wants it.'

Well, Latin America got it and look what happened. The Spanish made an absolute fucking mess out of it.

[quote]I don’t blame the locals for being angry, There has to be a way to improve the situation. Mass tourism in Europe is nothing like tourism in NYC. I rarely see huge tourist groups in NY and there aren’t entire areas overrun by drunken foreigners. You see mostly family and students in the tourist spots and that’s it.

And tourists in NYC tend to stay in the Times Square and Rockefeller Center areas. They're not all over the damn city.

This is why I prefer Madrid. Less run over by tourists, yet at the same time a ton of sruff to do and see; excellent world-renown art museums, for example the Thysse and Prado. Excellent parks like the Retiro park and last but not least; the gayborhood Chueca.