European holiday hotspot loved by Brits issues strict rules for tourists - with huge fines if you break them
The Costa del Sol destination, known for its links to Picasso, beautiful old town and sweeping beaches, has put its Improve your Stay campaign front and centre across the city.
The straight-talking ads are aimed at curbing behaviour that has angered locals in recent years, especially during the peak tourist season.
Signage across the city spells out expectations, with posters - on buses and billboards, written in English and directly addressing antics often attributed to British holidaymakers.
There's also a social media campaign reminding tourists they must follow municipal bylaws or face fines of up to €750 (£655) for violations.
In Malaga's city centre, residents have objected to foreigners walking around the city wearing only bikinis or shorts.
One of the Improve your Stay city hall signs reads: 'Dress completely. Both on the street and in public places always wear an upper garment out of respect and hygiene.'
Billboard posters ask visitors to wear full clothes while in town - demanding they 'dress properly', 'dress appropriately' and 'dress completely'.
The campaign, promoted by Malaga's tourism department, highlights four major issues: inappropriate attire, littering, excessive noise, and reckless e-scooter use.
Another sign focuses on noise pollution, urging visitors to 'respect the sleeping hours' of residents, including the elderly, students, and essential workers.
The sign advises against shouting, singing loudly, or playing music at high volumes in public areas, adding: 'Don't be conspicuous.'
Littering is another sore point for locals, with signs asking tourists to 'Keep the city clean' by using rubbish bins and taking care of historical monuments, gardens, and public seating.
Meanwhile, scooter riders are reminded that 'pavements are for pedestrians. If you use scooters or bicycles, do so in the legally authorised areas, in compliance with municipal ordinances.'
The measure is an attempt to combat visitors who ride indiscriminately in cycle lanes, invade pedestrian areas and have been involved in more than one serious incident.
With the summer season now in full swing, overtourism has become a major issue in many European resorts and cities.
Italy's Dolomites were compared to Disneyland last week by fed-up locals, as the beauty spot became overloaded by swarms of selfie-snapping tourists and so-called influencers.
Images and videos shared on social media shared by furious residents showed crowds of holidaymakers clogging up a cable car station in the Seceda area of the Alpine mountain range, which has become increasingly popular thanks to social media.
Another sign focuses on noise pollution, urging visitors to 'respect the sleeping hours' of residents, including the elderly, students, and essential workers
Littering is another sore point for locals, with signs asking tourists to 'Keep the city clean'
One particular video shows a lengthy queue of visitors at the station over-spilling onto a nearby cafe, while some tourists are seen blocking a staircase as they wait in line.
Another clip showed how a hiking trail came to a standstill as it became overwhelmed by tourists trying to reach the cable car.
The video, which was shared on an Instagram page, was captioned: 'Something incredible even just to be told.
'Hours in line waiting for your turn to go up the Seceda to admire the meadows, ridges, the most beautiful mountains of the Alto Adige, being careful not to step on each other's feet, not to clash, to take the selfie as 'freely' possible in the presence of other tourists.'
Such is the surge in visitors that the operator of the cable car that takes hikers up to the summit of the Seceda mountain has put in a request to triple the capacity of the chairlift, Italian news outlet Corriere della Sera reports.
But recent scenes of overcrowding at the UNESCO World Heritage Site has sparked anger among locals and environmentalists who say large crowds could put wildlife at risk.
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Daily Mail
5 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Eva Longoria, 50, sizzles in barely-there bikini and sheer romper as she enjoys family getaway in Spain
Eva Longoria put on a sizzling display in a plunging ensemble as she enjoyed a day out in Marbella, Spain with her family. The 50-year-old Desperate Housewives alum - who recently went bra-free during a stroll - was joined by her husband Jose Baston and their son Santiago, seven, as they soaked up the warm sunshine. The actress showed off her toned legs wearing a sheer white romper that had a low plunging neckline on the front. Underneath, the mom-of-one sported a skimpy white bikini top as well as matching bottoms. Eva slipped into a pair of open-toed sandals and accessorized the outfit with a pair of dangly earrings as well as a gold necklace with a cross-shaped pendant on the front. The Hollywood star additionally carried a wicker purse over her left shoulder while a stylish hat was placed on top of her brunette locks that flowed down in light waves. Eva Longoria, 50, put on a sizzling display in a plunging ensemble as she enjoyed a day out in Marbella, Spain with her family The Desperate Housewives alum was joined by her husband Jose Baston and their son Santiago, seven, as they soaked up the warm sunshine Eva - who has been spending most of the summer along the Spanish coast - enjoyed a walk outdoors with her loved ones. At one point, the Land Of Women star flashed a cheerful smile during the lighthearted excursion. She also indulged in a bit of shopping as she visited a nearby vendors and picked up a few items. The star has been spending her time abroad at homes in both Mexico and Spain following Trump's U.S. presidential win late last year. 'I had my whole adult life here,' Eva told Marie Claire about living in California, before opening up about how it has changed over the years. 'Whether it's the homelessness or the taxes, not that I want to s**t on California - it just feels like this chapter in my life is done now.' She continued, 'I'm privileged. I get to escape and go somewhere. Most Americans aren't so lucky. They're going to be stuck in this dystopian country, and my anxiety and sadness is for them.' During her recent time in Spain, the beauty was seen getting her steps in during a power walk in Marbella last week and also glammed up for the Global Gift Gala at Hotel Don Pepe Gran Meliá. The actress showed off her toned legs wearing a sheer white romper that had a low plunging neckline on the front Eva slipped into a pair of open-toed sandals and accessorized the outfit with a pair of dangly earrings as well as a gold necklace with a cross-shaped pendant on the front The Hollywood star additionally carried a wicker purse over her left shoulder while a stylish hat was placed on top of her brunette locks that flowed down in light waves Eva - who has been spending most of the summer along the Spanish coast - enjoyed a walk outdoors with her loved ones She also indulged in a bit of shopping as she visited a nearby vendors and picked up a few items The star has been spending her time abroad at her homes in both Mexico and Spain following Trump's U.S. presidential win late last year She also flaunted her summer-ready body in a fashionable bikini as she spent time by the water - five months after celebrating her 50th birthday in March. While talking to People in April, Eva opened up about the milestone and gushed, 'I'm having a moment. 'My skin's having a moment, I feel like my eyebrows are having a moment, I feel the healthiest I've ever been - it feels amazing.' The actress further reflected on how she has been focusing on her heath and explained, 'I travel, I exercise, I'm running up and down with my 6-year-old.' Eva and husband Jose welcomed their son Santiago in 2018 - who officially turned seven-years-old in June. 'I want to be able to do those things as long as I can. Your life when you're young should be about saying yes to everything. Now that I'm 50, it's about saying no and curating what I want my life to look like.' When it comes to fitness and self-care, the star expressed to Marie Claire that she often does cold plunges, meditation, journaling and also strength-training. 'I wake up with the sun; I'm doing the grounding; I have an Oura ring to track deep sleep; I'm taking magnesium and other supplements.' She continued, 'I'm privileged. I get to escape and go somewhere. Most Americans aren't so lucky. They're going to be stuck in this dystopian country, and my anxiety and sadness is for them' Eva is seen looking at toys as she stopped by one of the many vendors along the Spanish coast this week While talking to People in April, Eva opened up about the milestone and gushed, 'I'm having a moment' 'I want to be able to do those things as long as I can. Your life when you're young should be about saying yes to everything. Now that I'm 50, it's about saying no and curating what I want my life to look like,' the actress explained When it comes to fitness and self-care, the star expressed to Marie Claire that she often does cold plunges, meditation, journaling and also strength-training She continued, 'I'm doing everything. Not because I don't want to age but because I want to age' She continued, 'I'm doing everything. Not because I don't want to age but because I want to age.' While Eva has been spending her time abroad with her family, the star has been keeping busy in front of the camera as well. The beauty recently appeared in the comedic film Alexander And The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Road Trip which was released on Disney+ back in March. She starred alongside other cast members such as Jesse Garcia, Paulina Chavez, Cheech Marin and Thom Nemer. And in April, her CNN docuseries Eva Longoria: Searching For Spain premiered and concluded in June following eight episodes. Throughout the series, the actress explored a number of cities in the country including Madrid, Barcelona, Marbella, Galicia and San Sebastian. Eva and husband Jose welcomed their son Santiago in 2018 - who officially turned seven-years-old in June; the actress seen with her son in 2024 in Abu Dhabi And in April, her CNN docuseries Eva Longoria: Searching For Spain premiered and concluded in June following eight episodes Eva expressed in a statement, per CNN: 'Spain's rich culture, passionate people and bold and diverse cuisines have captivated me as long as I can remember, especially knowing that one of my Mexican-American ancestors has deep roots in this remarkable country. 'The opportunity to immerse myself in Spain's many regions, to discover its fascinating history, to indulge in its dynamic culinary traditions and innovations has been nothing short of exhilarating. 'I am so excited to finally share this incredible journey with the world!' Eva is set to travel to France for the upcoming season of Searching For - which will air next year in 2026.
Times
9 hours ago
- Times
The charming town in Andalusia that deserves more attention
It's hard to set foot in the Plaza de España in Vejer de la Frontera without a sense of expectation. Allow me to draw back the curtain. Greeting you at the heart of the plaza is an ornamental fountain — tiles, finials, lanterns, the lot — fed by four ceramic frogs. Around it, seats with more colourful tiling and wrought-iron backs are shaded by tall, slender palms. There's chatter from café customers and optimistic sparrows, orange trees and bougainvillea adding fragrance and colour, and a sweep of cobbles leading round past the whitewashed buildings in front of the town hall and up a ramp to a medieval archway. In other words, it is a perfect stage set, and the fact I have yet to witness any Vejeriegos breaking into a spontaneous chorus or serenading the crowd from a balcony must only, I feel sure, be down to bad timing on my part. But then Vejer, near the Atlantic southwestern coast of Spain, does have a habit of playing tricks with visitors' expectations. When a 24-year-old James Stuart rolled into this hilltop Andalusian town in 1980 in his VW Beetle, he was hoping only for a cheap base for himself and his surfboard, handy for the Costa de la Luz breakers a few miles away. Bread and milk were still delivered by donkey then and the Moorish old town was becoming run-down and abandoned as residents moved into newer houses. Stuart found an old building on the plaza that had been on the market for four years and snapped it up for £1,000. Forty-five years on that old building is the heart of La Casa del Califa, one of five hotels he owns in Vejer and nearby, along with a local holiday-home rental service, five restaurants and a hammam — all kept busy by the steady stream of visitors here for the charms of a place that he helped to put on the map. Padstow has Rick Stein; Vejer has James Stuart. Well, sort of. As empire-building goes it's been more organic than strategic. 'It became a lifelong project without that being the plan,' he says. 'Now I can't leave it. I can't sell it — it's my life.' After Stuart moved in, he worked as a guide, taking visitors on bicycle tours of this lesser-known region, before turning his home into a B&B. He managed to buy adjoining properties — some in ruins — and eventually, in 2001, transformed the collection of medieval buildings into the 21-room Casa del Califa, which soon earned its reputation as one of Andalusia's most charming boutique hotels. Two of its sister properties are neighbours: the quieter eight-room Las Palmeras opened in 2015, the only hotel in town with a swimming pool; the swisher Plaza 18 opened its six 19th-century rooms in 2020. Like a patient older sibling, La Casa del Califa has had to wait for Stuart's full attention, and it finally came last year, in the form of a top-to-toe makeover, its first in 25 years. 'I was never able to invest a lot — the hotel grew little by little — so it became a bit of a jumble,' Stuart says. 'Now we've tried to refine it, making everything more sumptuous, more cohesive.' That's easier said than done in a hotel made up of buildings from the 10th to the 16th centuries; it takes me a few days and a few wrong turns to make sense of the narrow staircases, connecting hallways, surprising courtyards and ancient archways. It's hotel design by way of MC Escher and Lewis Carroll. You think you've entered at the ground floor but, because Vejer stands on a hill, much of the hotel is downstairs — apart from the rooms that are upstairs, of course. 'The hardest thing has been the plumbing,' Stuart says. There are bedrooms in what were once stables, and restaurant tables in former water cisterns and grain silos. 'I've never changed the volume of the spaces, just adapted them.' • The easy way to see Andalusia's beautiful, history-packed villages It's his interior designer wife, Ellie Cormie, who can take credit for the updated decor. Gone are the desks and harder surfaces; in their place are linens, velvets and brocades draped over easy chairs, antique wall hangings and headboards. The strong Moroccan influence remains, especially in the fittings and artwork — unsurprising given that Morocco lies just across the Strait of Gibraltar. It is also evident in the popular Jardin del Califa restaurant, with its menu of pastilla pie and rice-and-beef maqluba, patio seating and new hanging gardens. But Africa and the Levant are well represented too, in photos, rugs and artefacts collected by Stuart's father during his time in Botswana, Syria and beyond. 'The caliphate of Damascus was the original one that sent tribes along the North African coastline to reach here,' Stuart says. Hence the hotel name. Among the antiques and saturated colours are paler fabrics, exposed stone walls and fun, fronded lampshades. In the Africa suite under the eaves — which I share with my husband and son (it was once Stuart's family apartment) — there's an old steamer trunk, bentwood armchairs upholstered with patterned hide, large rugs on the terracotta floor and framed black-and-white portraits of African people. Through the windows on one side we catch wafts of conversation, smoke and the tinkling fountains of Plaza de España; on the other side we can see all the way to Africa, the Atlas mountains shimmering in the distance. • The 25 coolest hotels in Andalusia Alongside its lovely new interiors, what Casa del Califa has always had is phenomenal views. Stuart's favourite room is No 12, a relatively modest double with a tasselled canopy over the bed, lots of windows and direct access to one of the hotel's panoramic terraces. You might think that a hilltop town would have views coming out its ears, but Moorish settlements like this were built more for protection from enemies and the elements than for panoramas and public viewpoints. Step through La Casa del Califa's front door, however, and look out the other side — from bedrooms, terraces and especially the rooftop tea-and-cocktail joint La Teteria del Califa — and you realise that you've landed one of the best seats in the town's natural amphitheatre. Royal-icing-white houses step sedately down the slope, their rosy dawn blush becoming a shades-on dazzle by noon. Below the town are rice fields, marshes and grazing retinto cattle; beyond them the oak-draped Sierra de los Alcornocales, the sea and another continent. It's not unlike Santorini in terms of spectacle — just without the eye-watering prices and queues of selfie-seekers. Not that streetside Vejer is short on eye candy. We have the Plaza de España for starters, but for mains and pud we get stuck in to the delicious tangle of medieval streets — glimpses of leafy patios through open doors; little independent boutiques and galleries; café tables on ramparts or in the shadow of the mosque-turned-church; a 15th-century castle with its Moorish arches and tropical gardens. Sure, it's touristy, and Airbnb has ruffled feathers here as it has elsewhere, but most visitors are Spanish and the tourism seems well managed. There are parallels with hippyish Tarifa, southeast along the coast, and Chefchaouen, the Moroccan mountain town with which Vejer is twinned, but Vejer is the boho sophisticate of the three — the place for grown-up hippies. • Read our full guide to Spain Strolls and cerveza stops and low-key sightseeing make Vejer the sort of place where it's easy to lose track of time. But we make sure that we keep our appointment at the hammam. Moorish Vejer didn't have one, but Stuart opened his where one would have been, near the mosque, and Cormie has decorated it with artisan wood and brasswork from Marrakesh. In the pleasingly dark and echoey space we dunk our way round the pools — from tepid to hot, to soap and salt scrub in the steam room, to a gaspingly cold plunge under a star-punctured dome. A sweet mint tea for the road and we're drifting back out into the street, feeling as zen as only grown-up hippies can — especially ones who've dried their cossies in the possibly-not-artisan spinny machine. On a previous visit to Vejer, in October 2019, we ventured out of town for surf lessons at El Palmar, a 20-minute drive away, and to explore the installations by Turrell, Eliasson and Abramovic at Fundacion NMAC, the brilliant pine forest sculpture park ten minutes' drive away. We visited Barbate — not because it was Franco's favourite seaside spot, but for its El Campero restaurant, which does masterful things with every part of a tuna — I still remember the exquisite fatty gill. Next time maybe we'll bring our walking boots for the trails around Vejer or sign up for a foodie tour with Annie B — like Stuart, a Scot adopted by the town as one of its own. This time we combine history with swimming and sandcastles by the dunes on Cape Trafalgar. And one evening we join a walking tour of Vejer with Juan Jose Ruiz. It's in Spanish, but he gives us an English-language pamphlet and recaps for us along the way, so we get the gist. He leads the group through the old town, taking us to courtyards and corners we might otherwise have missed, regaling us with ancient tales of thieves, ghosts, star-crossed lovers and the mysterious cobijadas — emblematic women of the 16th-century town who showed just one eye from behind a black veil. But every walking tour needs a twist, and Ruiz's is that he performs his as a walking minstrel, complete with a hooded cape, little leather bootees and a guitar to accompany his sung stories. It's … unconventional, but somehow it works. So it's not strictly true that I've never seen a Vejeriego burst into song. And it's not just Plaza de España — all the town's a stage. This article contains affiliate links that will earn us revenue Liz Edwards was a guest of the Califa Group, which has B&B doubles at La Casa del Califa from £108, mains at El Jardin del Califa from £12 and at Califa Tapas from £9 and 90-minute hammam sessions from £35pp ( She was also a guest of Vueling, which flies to Malaga from £39 ( and Marimantas Vejer, which has walking tours from £10 ( Do you have a favourite town in Spain? Let us know in the comments
Daily Mail
12 hours ago
- Daily Mail
It's Beni-dormant! Gleeful Spanish locals rejoice after seeing drop in Costa del Sol holidaymakers after years of anti-tourism protests - as pictures show half-empty restaurants
It's Beni-dormant! Gleeful Spanish locals rejoice after seeing drop in Costa del Sol holidaymakers after years of anti-tourism protests - as pictures show half-empty restaurants Gleeful Spanish locals are rejoicing after seeing a drop in the number of Costa Del Sol holidaymakers following years of angry anti-tourism demonstrations. The holiday hotspot has recorded its first decline in visitors since the Covid-19 pandemic - with typically bustling destinations seemingly becoming far less-crowded. Images from Benidorm taken in the last few days show empty chairs outside bars and restaurants - rare for this time of year when they are usually rammed with tourists. The pictures follow mass protests across Spain where thousands have claimed excessive tourism is forcing locals out of affordable housing, raising the cost of living and making the city centres unusable. Majorca has also seen a sharp decline in tourist numbers, with officials claiming that a relentless campaign of anti-tourist protests is 'scaring away visitors' as locals say some resorts are now 'completely dead'. In Costa del Sol, the holiday rental sector saw a drop of 2.2% in tourist numbers during the first half of the year - a trend that has accelerated since March, when numbers hit a low of 57%, according to local paper Sur In English. While the downturn has sparked concern among some local businesses, others see it as a welcome break after years of over tourism and have taken to social media to share their relief. One person wrote: 'The news is painted as bad but the reality is that it's good. Tourism is fine but the tourist mass coming to Malaga was more than the city could handle. I'd rather take care of 10 tourists well than 100 bad.' Gleeful Spanish locals are rejoicing after seeing a drop in the number of Costa Del Sol holidaymakers following years of angry anti-tourism demonstrations. Pictured: An empty bar a few days ago An image taken of the same bar sharply contrasts with scenes in March this year (pictured) when the same terrace was rammed with drinkers Pictured: Benidorm with unusually quiet bar terraces and some space on the local beaches Images from Benidorm show empty chairs outside bars and space on beaches - rare for this time of year when they are usually rammed with tourists In Costa del Sol, the holiday rental sector saw a drop of 2.2% in tourist numbers during the first half of the year - a trend that has accelerated since March, when numbers hit a low of 57%. Pictured: A bar in Benidorm with empty tables While the downturn has sparked concern among local businesses, others see it as a welcome break after years of struggling to cope with overtourism Another added: 'Very good news, let's see if we stop depending on tourism and the business fabric returns to Spain. 'Tourism should be regulated somehow and see if the real estate bubble explodes because of that and people here can buy a house again like it used to be.' A third said: 'It seems good to me, that it goes down, even if it negative impact on commerce (and I feel sorry for those freelancers) but if we settle in that niche we will never be able to improve the rent of the Malagasy, added to that the price of the property would continue to rise. 'We don't want displaced Malagasy people, we want Malagasy people thriving. Tourism is not bad, but Malaga needs to grow according to its situation, and what was happening is that we were above what we could stand. 'Let's see if this helps entrepreneurs to rethink if the only business that thrives in Malaga is the quaternary sector... We want more industry, which can really make Malagasy people increase their capital!!!' Pictured: Locals express their feelings about the decline in tourists It follows mass protests across Spain where thousands have claimed excessive tourism is forcing locals out of affordable housing, raising the cost of living and making the city centres unusable. Pictured: A beach in Benidorm The decline in tourist numbers is thought to be caused by a combination of rising prices, overtourism concerns, and a shift in travel preferences The decline in tourist numbers is thought to be caused by a combination of rising prices, overtourism concerns, and a shift in travel preferences. It comes as a slump in spending in Majorca this summer has been blamed on the wave of anti-tourism protests that have gripped Spain. With British holidaymakers seemingly among foreigners turning their backs on the island, its tourism industry is in panic mode as officials overseeing the nightlife sector and tour companies warn that guests no longer feel 'welcomed'. The restaurant association president, Juanmi Ferrer, gave a stark warning that the messaging of the protests is 'scaring visitors away'. Additionally, Miguel Pérez-Marsá, head of the nightlife association, told Majorca Daily Bulletin: 'The tourists we're interested in are being driven away; they don't feel welcome and are going to other destinations.' Local media reports that the situation has become so dire that some managers have given staff holidays in the middle of July, which is often the height of the summer rush. Costa del Sol isn't the only Spanish holiday hotspot experiencing a drop in visitors this year - Majorca has also seen a sharp decline in tourist numbers. Pictured: Jumping Jacks bar a few days ago This is the same bar pictured last year, before the decline in tourist numbers Pictured: A beach in Benidorm unusually quiet for this time of year This time of year beaches in Benidorm are expected to be rammed with tourists at this time of year but images suggest otherwise Streets are also far quieter than usual in the Spanish municipality Costa del Sol isn't the only Spanish holiday hotspot experiencing a drop in visitors this year - Majorca has also seen a sharp decline in tourist numbers. Spanish officials have admitted that a relentless campaign of anti-tourist protests in Majorca is 'scaring away visitors' - with locals claiming some resorts are now 'completely dead' But it's not just bars, restaurants, and nightlife venues feeling the slump. Tour guides are seeing the same downward trend. Pedro Oliver, president of the College of Tour Guides, said: 'The anti-tourism messages are resonating.' He revealed excursion sales have dropped by 20 per cent this summer, with Valldemossa, Palma and Port Soller among the worst-hit areas as British, German, and Italian tourists have all been put off. 'If you generate negative news, which has repercussions in other countries, tourists opt for other destinations when choosing their holidays,' he said. 'We are sending the message that we don't want tourists and that everything is too crowded.' Excursion operator Proguies Turístics normally offers around 30 excursions per cruise. That number is now down to just 12 to 14. Its president, Biel Rosales, warned: 'Tourismphobia and the idea that tourists are not welcome are hurting us greatly.' He added that high prices and traffic jams are also turning tourists away. Transport bosses are also worried. Rafel Roig, president of the transport federation, said: 'You can't send out these messages because people won't go where they're not wanted.' Coach firms and taxi drivers have both seen a decline in customers. Majorca's beaches, often filled with tourists has seen fewer people than usual Pictured: Empty chairs outside a restaurant in Majorca a few days ago A recent image shows another empty restaurant in Majorca Biel Moragues, from one of the island's taxi associations, said: 'British tourists are the most upset by the protests and have changed their holiday destination.' Locals now say tourism on the island is completely different from years gone by. It comes after anti-tourism activists have wreaked havoc across Spain this summer. Thousands of protestors marched through central Barcelona last month, waving placards and squirting holidaymakers with water guns in the latest expression of anger at perceived overtourism in Spain. Under the slogan 'Enough! Let's put limits on tourism', some 2,800 people - according to police - marched along a waterfront district of Barcelona to demand a new economic model that would reduce the millions of tourists that visit every year. Protesters carried signs reading 'Barcelona is not for sale,' and, 'Tourists go home,' before some used water guns on tourists eating outdoors at restaurants in popular tourist hotspots. Chants of 'Tourists out of our neighbourhood' rang out as some stopped in front of the entrances to hotels. Barcelona's rising cost of housing, up 68 percent in the past decade, is one of the main issues for the movement, along with the effects of tourism on local commerce and working conditions in the city of 1.6 million inhabitants. Anti-riot forces gesture as protestors marched through Barcelona's Las Ramblas alley, on July 6 Video showed protestors gathering in Las Ramblas, a hotspot for holidaymakers Protestors squirted water guns at tourists eating in popular spots in the city Rents rose by 18% in June from a year earlier in tourist cities such as Barcelona and Madrid, according to the property website Idealista. For years, the city has worn anti-tourist graffiti with messages such as 'tourists go home' aimed at visitors some blame for the rising prices and shaping of the economy around tourists. The Barcelona protests came after similar demonstrations in tourist hotspots such as Malaga, Palma de Mallorca and the Canary Islands. The second most visited country after France, Spain received 85 million foreign visitors in 2023, an increase of 18.7 percent from the previous year, according to the National Statistics Institute. The most visited region was Catalonia, whose capital is Barcelona, with 18 million, followed by the Balearic Islands (14.4 million) and the Canary Islands (13.9 million). Furious locals who orchestrated mass anti-tourism protests across the Canary Islands earlier this year issued another warning to British travellers this week as they vowed to target 'main holidaymaker areas' over the summer break. Again, they aired their frustrations that not enough had been done to answer their calls. Tens of thousands of people took to the streets of Tenerife on April 20, with roughly 200,000 protesters thought to have taken part in mass demonstrations across the island archipelago. The protests, organised by various groups including 'Friends of Nature of Tenerife (ATAN)' aimed to discourage foreign holidaymakers while also compelling councils to introduce new legislation aimed at protecting the islands from the effects of an ever-expanding tourism industry.
