For decades, Europe has been a dream destination for millions of travelers seeking historic cities, stunning coastlines, and vibrant cultural experiences. However, as tourism numbers surge post-pandemic, many beloved European hotspots are facing increasing local resentment over the overwhelming impact of mass tourism. Cities and islands once eager to attract visitors are now struggling with overcrowding, environmental degradation, rising living costs, and disruptive visitor behavior.
From Majorca to Amsterdam, Venice to Santorini, locals are demanding change. Protests, new policies, and stricter tourism regulations are emerging as communities push back against the negative consequences of excessive tourism. Authorities in some destinations have begun enforcing caps on visitors, banning cruise ships, increasing tourist taxes, and cracking down on short-term rentals like Airbnb.
In Spain’s Balearic Islands, Majorca has become one of the epicenters of local resistance against overtourism. In May 2024, more than 100,000 residents took to the streets of Palma, protesting the lack of affordable housing due to soaring rent prices driven by tourism demand. The protests continued into the summer, with demonstrators occupying beaches and urging tourists to stay away.
Graffiti across Majorca reflects local frustration, with messages like “Your paradise, our hell”. Many locals argue that mass tourism is eroding their quality of life, forcing them out of their homes, and depleting natural resources. Barcelona has long struggled with overtourism. Since 2017, anti-tourist sentiments have escalated, with incidents such as attacks on tour buses making headlines. The city’s government has responded by introducing stringent regulations to curb tourism’s impact.
The most drastic measure? A plan to phase out all tourist apartments by 2029 in an effort to free up housing for locals. Rising rents, overcrowded streets, and a nightlife scene catering primarily to visitors have driven local resentment. In past protests, demonstrators have even sprayed tourists with water as a form of resistance.
Amsterdam, a city famous for its liberal atmosphere and lively nightlife, is actively discouraging certain types of tourists from visiting. In March 2024, the Dutch capital launched its “Stay Away” campaign, aimed at deterring rowdy visitors—particularly those coming for excessive partying.
This is just one part of Amsterdam’s larger effort to regain control over tourism. By 2035, the city will ban cruise ships from docking, cutting down on mass tourism and its environmental footprint. The move highlights growing dissatisfaction with overcrowding and disruptive tourist behavior.
Venice has long suffered from mass tourism, with millions of visitors flooding the city’s fragile lagoon ecosystem every year. To manage visitor numbers, the city introduced a €5 entry fee for day-trippers in April 2024.
The tax’s first day sparked protests, with demonstrators carrying signs reading “Welcome to Veniceland”, criticizing the commercialization of their city. Venice had already banned large cruise ships from docking in central areas, signaling a shift toward more sustainable tourism policies.
Croatia’s Adriatic coast has become another battleground for anti-tourism efforts. In Split, authorities installed signs warning visitors against urination in public, climbing on monuments, and drunken behavior. Violators face fines of up to €300, and private security now patrols the streets at night to enforce these rules.
Dubrovnik, another Croatian hotspot, is tackling mass tourism by reducing the number of cruise ships allowed to dock daily, hoping to ease the strain on its historic Old Town.
Tenerife, one of Spain’s Canary Islands, has seen increasing hostility toward tourists, with graffiti stating “Tourists go home” appearing on walls. A major protest in April 2024, under the slogan “The Canary Islands have a limit”, highlighted concerns over resource depletion, traffic congestion, and environmental degradation.
Locals demand stricter regulations on visitor numbers and short-term rentals, fearing that continued tourism expansion will push them out of their own communities.
