{"id":2448678,"date":"2025-06-18T04:20:01","date_gmt":"2025-06-18T08:20:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/anti-tourism-protesters-in-europe-are-using-water-guns-on-tourists-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2025-06-18T04:24:21","modified_gmt":"2025-06-18T08:24:21","slug":"anti-tourism-protesters-in-europe-are-using-water-guns-on-tourists-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/anti-tourism-protesters-in-europe-are-using-water-guns-on-tourists-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Anti-tourism protesters in Europe are using water guns on tourists &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fanti-tourism-protesters-in-europe-are-using-water-guns-on-tourists-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2448678&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Anti-tourism protests have erupted across Europe, particularly in Spain, Italy, France, and Portugal, as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wake-up-with-the-washington-examiner-how-to-win-a-vp-debate-the-real-burden-in-springfield-and-plains-celebrates-carter-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"Wake up with the Washington Examiner: How to win a VP debate, the real burden in Springfield, and Plains celebrates Carter - Washington Examiner\">residents express frustration<\/a> over the increasing presence of tourists. Demonstrators argue that mass tourism is driving up the cost of living, making it difficult for locals to afford housing. Protesters have resorted to using water guns as a form of protest, a trend that originated in Barcelona last year. Local residents, like Andreu Mart\u00ednez, claim that tourism has drastically increased rental prices and altered the local economy, transforming customary shops into tourist-focused establishments. The protests have spread to various cities including Barcelona, Venice, Milan, Naples, Palma, Ibiza, and Paris, where Louvre workers held a strike due to overwhelming tourist crowds impacting working conditions. Despite these protests, <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >mainstream tourism contributes significantly<\/a> to the economy, responsible for 12% of Spain&#8217;s GDP, with the country experiencing a record 94 million visitors in 2024. Activist groups such as Menys Turisme Mes Vida are vocal about the negative effects of tourism and encourage the use of water guns as a way to reclaim local spaces for residents.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Anti-tourism protesters in Europe are using water guns on tourists<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2150721\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>A wave of anti-tourism <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/fact-check-no-this-photo-does-not-show-a-recent-french-protest-against-covid-19-rules\/\" title=\"FACT CHECK: No, This Photo Does Not Show A Recent French ... Against COVID-19 Rules\">protests occurred<\/a> throughout <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/europe\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Europe<\/a> over the weekend as locals grew weary of tourists in their country.<\/p>\n<p>Protesters gathered throughout Spain, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/italy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Italy<\/a>, France, and Portugal to demonstrate against what they argue is mass <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/tourism\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">tourism<\/a>. Organizers of the demonstrations have <a href=\"https:\/\/news.sky.com\/story\/anti-tourism-protests-break-out-in-spain-italy-and-portugal-13384020\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">claimed<\/a> that the influx of foreign travelers into their countries has led to a significant increase in the cost of living, making it unsustainable for local residents, according to Sky News.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3445394\/florida-panthers-defeat-edmonton-oilers-win-stanley-cup\/\">Florida Panthers defeat the Edmonton Oilers to win second consecutive Stanley Cup<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/3444862\/virginia-primary-election-results-attorney-general-jay-jones\/\">Jay Jones wins Virginia Democratic primary for attorney general<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3445310\/tucker-carlson-ted-cruz-us-involvement-israel-iran-population\/\">Carlson hounds Cruz about US involvement in Israeli strikes on Iran: &#8216;You just said we&#8217;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>As part of their antics, protesters have started spraying tourists with water guns to voice their displeasure, according to multiple reports. It was a practice that began last year in Barcelona, as protesters squirted water guns at tourists to protest their presence in their country.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The squirt guns are to bother the tourists a bit,&rdquo; <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/news\/spain-protest-water-guns-tourism-housing-costs\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">said<\/a> Barcelona resident Andreu Mart&iacute;nez. &ldquo;Barcelona has been handed to the tourists. This is a fight to give Barcelona back to its residents.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Martinez told CBS News<em> <\/em>that mass tourism has caused his rent to increase by over 30% as visitors to the city utilize apartments for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/long-list-of-companies-pulled-out-of-russia-this-week\/\" title=\"Long List of Companies Pulled Out of Russia This Week\">short-term rentals<\/a>. He also said that the excessive influx of tourists in the area has caused economic shifts, with traditional stores in the area being replaced by touristy venues to attract tourists to spend money. This included economic pivots to souvenir shops, food establishments, and refreshment locations such as &ldquo;bubble tea&rdquo; stores, according to reports.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em>Sky News<\/em> reported that protests occurred in the Spanish cities of Barcelona, Ibiza, and Palma, the Italian cities of Venice, Milan, and Naples, and the Portuguese city of Lisbon. The anti-tourism movement hit Paris, France, on Monday, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3443863\/louvre-strike-temporarily-shuts-down\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">as workers from the Louvre<\/a>, the world-renowned museum and one of the city&rsquo;s preeminent tourist attractions, spontaneously went on strike to protest the number of tourists visiting the museum, which they claimed created poor working conditions.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>In 2024, records revealed that Spain had visits from 94 million tourists while having a national population of only 48 million, ABC News reported. Early estimates for this year suggest that number could surpass 100 million. And while many have decried the situation regarding the influx of tourists in the country, revenue from the tourism industry is responsible for <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/abcnews.go.com\/Travel\/wireStory\/spaniards-packing-water-pistols-blame-impact-mass-tourism-122862215\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">12% of the country&rsquo;s GDP<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The anti-tourism group Menys Turisme Mes Vida (Less Tourism, More Life) expressed resentment over tourism&rsquo;s adverse effects on Spanish cities.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/opinion\/beltway-confidential\/3444045\/army-parade-was-massive-success\/\"><strong>THE ARMY PARADE WAS A MASSIVE SUCCESS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We say enough to the destruction of the territory, to the precariousness, to the housing crisis, to the loss of rights,&rdquo; the groups said in a statement to Sky News.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;It is very likely the water pistols will be back,&rdquo; <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/abcnews.go.com\/Travel\/wireStory\/spaniards-packing-water-pistols-blame-impact-mass-tourism-122862215\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">said<\/a> Daniel Pardo, an organizer of a Barcelona protest. &ldquo;In fact, we encourage people to bring their own.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_2150721\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"2150721\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Anti-tourism protests in Europe involve locals using water guns on tourists<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2677,"featured_media":2448679,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Water-Gun-protest-scaled-1024x683.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[57358,8447,4007],"class_list":["post-2448678","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-anti-tourism","tag-europe","tag-protesters"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Water-Gun-protest-scaled-1024x683.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2448678","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2677"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2448678"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2448678\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2448682,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2448678\/revisions\/2448682"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2448679"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2448678"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2448678"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2448678"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}