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Locals Revolt Against Overtourism: 9 Hotspots Begging Visitors to Stay Away
15 Nov
Summary
- Residents in Europe's top tourist destinations protest rising rents, overcrowding, and environmental damage
- Bali's beaches buried in trash as waste management struggles to keep up with tourist influx
- Canary Islands see 50,000 protesters demand action on overtourism's impact on resources and welfare
As of November 15, 2025, a growing number of popular tourist destinations across Europe and Asia are facing a crisis of overtourism, with local residents taking to the streets in protest. In cities like Venice, Barcelona, and the Canary Islands, tens of thousands have rallied against the influx of visitors, which is pricing locals out of their homes and damaging the environment.
In Venice, the city's controversial tourist tax introduced in 2024 has done little to curb the 20 million annual visitors, with locals accusing the government of failing to address the housing crisis. Similarly, Barcelona has seen protesters confront tourists directly, spraying them with water and blocking hotel entrances, as the city of 1.6 million grapples with 12-15 million overnight visitors per year.
