A recent YouGov survey reveals that a third of Spaniards believe their local areas are overwhelmed by international tourists. This survey, which spans several European countries, highlights growing support for measures to address overtourism, a concern that has sparked protests from Santorini to the Canary Islands, and led to new regulations from the Cinque Terre to Amsterdam.
Spain showed the strongest opposition to mass tourism, with 32% of respondents saying their area now has too many foreign visitors. This figure climbed to 48% in Catalonia, home to Barcelona, which attracts 32 million visitors annually. One local writer lamented: “My city has been stolen from me, and I’m not getting it back.”
Additionally, 28% of Spaniards expressed a negative view of international tourists, a sentiment that exceeded that of other countries surveyed. France and Italy followed with 18% and 16%, respectively, saying they were concerned about foreign visitors.
Short-term holiday rentals also drew criticism, with 37% of Spaniards viewing the sector as harmful and 45% having an overall negative opinion. In response, Spain’s government has vowed to regulate platforms like Airbnb, while Barcelona plans to phase out all holiday flats by 2029.
Across Europe, concerns about overtourism resonate. In the UK, 33% had a negative view of the holiday rental sector, followed by Italy (30%), France (28%), Denmark (24%), and Germany (21%). The hotel industry, however, enjoyed favorable opinions across the board, with approval ratings between 69% and 73%.
The cruise industry was another target, particularly in France (47%) and Germany (45%). Spain (20%) and Italy (19%), where cities like Barcelona and Venice have already taken steps to limit cruise ship traffic, were somewhat less critical.
Support for anti-overtourism protests is strong, with 66% of Spaniards and similar majorities in France, Germany, and Sweden backing residents in popular tourist areas. There’s also widespread approval for measures to limit tourism, with many supporting advanced booking systems, visitor caps, and restrictions on hotel construction.
In response to these concerns, several cities and tourist destinations have implemented strategies to control visitor numbers, from increasing tourist taxes to limiting access through reservation systems.
