Spanish locals are furious with overtourism in their country, but there's one real reason in particular why locals in two famous Spanish cities are at their wits' end with tourists, including the millions of Brits who visit every year. The main reason people are angry is because tourism in Spain is relentless due to its naturally warm climate, according to locals. It’s not just seasonally when the country is overtaken by tourists, instead, cities like Barcelona and Madrid attract visitors all-year round which keeps tourist numbers consistently high.

This means there’s no break or quiet period when locals can enjoy their hometowns and cities without the buzz of visitors. But this is one factor on top of many others such as pressure on public services, damage to the environment and housing issues.

It comes after the first publicised overtourism protest of the season took place in Barcelona on Sunday and saw activists stand in front of a tourist bus. They held up the bus at the city's famous Sagrada Familia basilica, shouting anti-tourism slogans while spraying holidaymakers on board with water. The demonstrators also covered the front of the bus with a large banner which read: "Let’s put out the tourist fire. June 15th – Day of struggle against touristification."

With so many visitors, public services like transport, sanitation, and healthcare are strained.  Local residents often feel their cities are overcrowded and not designed to handle such large numbers.

As for the environment, Spain’s natural landscapes, especially the beaches, suffer from the effects of over-tourism.  Pollution, litter, and damage to natural habitats are common, particularly on the Balearic Islands.

Due to these issues, the country has seen protests break out in many tourist hotspots.

Barcelona has been at the centre of the protests with around 30 million visitors annually, Barcelona’s narrow streets and historic sites are often packed with tourists.

It comes after activist Elena Boschi said at a recent summit in Barcelona that tourists should be afraid of the backlash from local people. She said: "We want tourists to have some level of fear about the situation – without fear, there is no change."

Locals have staged protests, calling for stricter regulations on tourism, including limits on cruise ships and Airbnb rentals.

Authorities are working on a solution to the issue which could include tourist tax changes, limiting short-term rentals and spreading out tourism to different parts of the country.

According to CNN Travel, in the summer of 2024, after years of enduring the pressures of overtourism, locals in Barcelona ramped up their protest, with thousands gathering to chant “tourists go home.”