How Spain is becoming a European test case for whether anger can be turned into a force for renewal – not destabilization
Jul 23, 2024
Despite the disruption to tourists across Europe, the protests are not aimed at individual visitors. The blame lies with the tourism industry and the governments that allow it to grow unchecked, a sentiment shared by many protesters.
One slogan in the Canary Islands summed up a common sentiment: “Tourism, yes. But not like this.” The question is how to fix their tourism sector – and at what economic cost.
The proposed remedies for overtourism fall into four categories:
- The first solution is better oversight and tighter controls by regional and local governments, such as cracking down on the abuse of public spaces and measures to address the housing crisis.
- The second remedy is to attract a different type of tourist by promoting high-end tourism focused on fine dining, music festivals and artistic heritage, especially in places like Barcelona.
- The third solution, backed by the travel industry, argues that the problem is insufficient capacity, not too many tourists. They call for coordinated investments in housing, urban transportation, and water systems.
- The most radical solution is degrowth, which involves reducing the overall number of international tourists. This approach emphasizes reducing carbon emissions and highlights inequalities in travel affordability.
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