Millions flock to Barcelona each year to experience its idyllic European charm. However, over the weekend, thousands of locals marched through the streets, spraying visitors with water guns in protest against mass tourism.

Protesters were seen clapping, chanting “Tourists go home!” and carrying signs with anti-tourist slogans. They argued that the influx of visitors has driven up living costs for residents.

According to the Guàrdia Urbana de Barcelona, the municipal city police force, about 2,800 people participated in the protest, as reported by Spanish paper El País.

However, the protest group Assemblea de Barris pel Decreixement Turístic (Neighborhood Assembly for Tourist Degrowth) claimed that as many as 20,000 joined.

“The tourism and hotels make big money, but local people are in a very poor situation and don’t have enough money to live. That’s the problem,” said protester Joan Navarro-Bertran.

Barcelona, home to iconic sites like La Sagrada Familia, sparkling blue beaches, and famous local cuisine, is a major tourist destination, NBC News has reported.

Last year, about 26 million people visited the Barcelona area, spending 9.6 billion euros (10.4 billion USD), according to the Tourism Observatory of Barcelona.

A significant source of local agitation is the rising housing prices and the displacement of long-term residents.

Rent in the city has increased nearly 70% over the past decade, according to Mayor Jaume Collboni.

In June, Collboni announced a plan to stop renewing permits for rentals used by foreign visitors by 2028, aiming to make 10,000 units available to locals within four years.

Written by B.C. Begley