Southern Europe Locals Struggle with the Impacts of Mass Tourism

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Many tourist spots in Europe are expecting record numbers this summer, and locals are increasingly on edge. They are demanding lower rents and a fairer distribution of resources.

Several European cities, particularly popular with tourists, have seen protests by local residents. In Venice, some protesters have even squatted in apartments in recent years, arguing that tourism has left few affordable homes for locals. With around 49,000 residents in Venice's historic center and over 20 million tourists visiting each year, the daily lives of locals are often disrupted by the influx of visitors.

Europe is the most popular continent for international tourists, and Venice is not alone in feeling the impact of mass tourism. Reports of protests against tourism have increased in Barcelona and other Spanish cities. In Lisbon, Prague, and Amsterdam, tensions between visitors and locals are also rising. The main reasons for these tensions are similar across these cities: rising rents, high real estate prices, and disputes over resource allocation.

Tourism is a major source of income for many European cities and regions. According to EU estimates, tourism accounts for about 10% of the bloc's GDP, with approximately 12.3 million people employed in the sector. However, Sebastian Zenker, a tourism and marketing expert at the Copenhagen Business School, points out that these figures can be misleading. Local residents do not necessarily benefit from tourism revenue if it leads to higher rents, unaffordable properties, and higher prices at local restaurants. Zenker emphasizes the need for a balanced approach that ensures locals feel the benefits of tourism.

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Despite tourism being a major income source, wages in the sector are often low. For instance, the minimum wage in Portugal is €4.85 ($5.25) per hour, and in Spain, it is €6.87. Italy does not have a minimum wage.

Where does all the money spent by tourists go? Paul Peeters, a sustainable tourism and transport researcher at Breda University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands, explains that a significant portion goes to airlines, major hotel chains, international companies, and the cruise industry. Tourists on cruises, for example, usually sleep and eat on board, spending little money locally while still contributing to pollution and resource consumption.

In response to these challenges, several cities have taken action. Amsterdam has banned the construction of new hotels and launched campaigns to reduce party and drug tourism. Lisbon and Palma de Mallorca have stopped issuing new licenses for property rentals via platforms like Airbnb. Barcelona plans to let 10,000 holiday rental licenses expire by 2028 to ease the housing market pressure.

Cruise ships are also facing more restrictions. Large ships have been banned from docking in Venice's center since 2021, and Amsterdam plans to introduce similar restrictions by 2026 to limit tourist numbers and reduce air pollution.

Some places, like Mallorca, are promoting "high-quality tourism" to attract fewer but wealthier tourists. However, Macia Blázquez-Salom, a geography professor and activist in Palma de Mallorca, argues that this approach exacerbates inequalities. Wealthier tourists have higher expectations, consume more resources, and can drive gentrification and real estate speculation, impacting local residents more directly.

Growth is no longer seen as a viable option by many locals in Barcelona, Venice, and Palma. To manage tourism sustainably, Peeters suggests keeping tourist numbers at levels that cities and municipalities can handle, considering ecological and social factors. This would require agreements with airlines and port authorities, which currently prioritize growth and overcapacity. 

Ultimately, the key challenge is finding a balance that benefits both locals and tourists while ensuring sustainable and equitable resource distribution.

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