Protesters in Spain shoot water guns at tourists

Thousands of residents across Spain and parts of Europe protested Sunday against mass tourism, blaming it for rising housing costs and the displacement of locals. In cities like Barcelona and Palma de Mallorca, demonstrators sprayed tourists with water guns and held signs like “Tourist Go Home.” Similar protests occurred in Venice and Lisbon. Activists say overtourism and short-term rentals like Airbnb are driving out residents and reshaping neighborhoods, CBS News has reported. Spain, which saw a record 94 million tourists in 2024, is cracking down, with Barcelona planning to eliminate all 10,000 short-term rental licenses by 2028.