Anti-tourism attacks in Spain: who is behind them and what do they want?

During the main season for tourists in Spain in 2017 anti-tourism activists targetted Barcelona, Majorca, Valencia and San Sebastián with protests – some of them involving violence. The goal seemed to be to rail against the negative impact of mass tourism on local life and living standards.

The article analyses the situation and wider significance.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Sustainable tourism: The environmental dimension (EPRS: Briefing March 2017) http://www.europeansources.info/record/sustainable-tourism-the-environmental-dimension/

The Independent, 05.08.17: Anarchist group threatens new attacks on tourists in Spain after targeting Barcelona and Mallorca http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/tourist-attacked-spain-anarchists-british-bus-barcelona-palma-de-mallorca-arran-restaurants-a7878226.html

The Independent, 08.08.17: Is it safe to travel to Spain after violent protests against tourism http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/spain-travel-safe-holiday-violent-protests-barcelona-arran-attacks-hotels-restaurants-catalan-a7882481.html

The Independent, 09.08.17: Why Barcelona locals really hate tourists http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/barcelona-locals-hate-tourists-why-reasons-spain-protests-arran-airbnb-locals-attacks-graffiti-a7883021.html

El País, 09.08.17: Spain’s Balearic Islands cap tourist bed numbers at 623,000 https://elpais.com/elpais/2017/08/09/inenglish/1502262380_179935.html

El País, 07.08.17: After week of silence, Barcelona mayor addresses ongoing tourist crises https://elpais.com/elpais/2017/08/07/inenglish/1502112178_222009.html

The Guardian, 11.08.17: [Opinion]: Mass tourism is at a tipping point – but we’re all part of the problem https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/aug/11/tourism-tipping-point-travel-less-damage-destruction

Euro|Topics: Debates, August 2017: The dark side of record tourist numbers http://www.eurotopics.net/en/184041/the-dark-side-of-record-tourist-numbers

The Guardian, 11.08.17: How does tourism affect where you live? https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2017/aug/11/how-does-tourism-affect-where-you-live

Catalan News, 31.08.17: International tourism in Catalonia up 1 million over last year http://www.catalannews.com/business/item/international-tourism-in-catalonia-up-1-million-over-last-year

The Conversation, 05.09.17: Tourist codes of conduct are a bad idea – here’s why https://theconversation.com/tourist-codes-of-conduct-are-a-bad-idea-heres-why-82676

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