British tourists admit they’re ditching Spain, and travelling elsewhere on holiday due to ongoing protests. Spanish locals have recently dubbed tourism as “cancerous”
Brits have confessed they’re ditching Spain in favour of other holiday destinations after it was reported the popular hotspot has become “eerily quiet.” It’s been claimed people are avoiding the country due to ongoing anti-tourism protests, with some Spanish locals dubbing tourism as “cancerous.”
Laura, known as lauratravelvlogs on TikTok, is known for documenting what the situation is like in Spain, heavily focusing on scenes in Barcelona in particular, and she recently shared some comments locals have made about tourism. After a few made remarks like “tourists ruined life” for locals and “nobody is begging for tourists to come”, many people admitted they won’t be returning to the holiday spot.
She confessed people take the comments “too far”, as she shared a video of very empty streets. It appears others also concur with her observations about Spain’s dwindling crowds in recent years.
Since the post was shared, various people commented to offer their thoughts on the situation. Dozens admitted they haven’t gone back to Spain as a result.
One person said: “Oh wow. Didn’t realise tourism was such an issue there. We planned to go to Barcelona in 2026 for the MotoGP race. Guess we will choose a different race to attend.”
Another added: “Tourism is your bread an butter economically. It’s a shame they were so concerned about tourists – they literally drove them out.”
A third replied: “Spain was on my bucket list for 2025/2026, but so was Greece. We chose to go visit different parts of Greece for two weeks over Spain. I would rather spend time experiencing a country that wants my business, not a country that doesn’t.”
Meanwhile, a fourth commented: “Tell them, we listened. I went to Hawaii instead.” Someone else also chimed in with: “I would rather go to Portual or Italy.”
Some people also admitted the streets looked “peaceful and quiet”, but others told Laura they think she should also show what the streets look like when it’s busy. They argued this would reveal some people still want to visit and enjoy the beautiful sights of Spain.
However, it hasn’t gone unnoticed that things are changing when it comes to tourism in the country. Overall, it’s been documented that Spain has been deserted by numerous holidaymakers, with eateries and coastlines appearing virtually empty.
Areas of the nation have been witnessing a drop in visitor figures for the first time since the pandemic, alongside years of anti-tourist demonstrations by residents. In August, images from Benidorm showed a multitude of vacant seats outside various establishments and rather deserted beaches. This is particularly unusual for major holiday hotspots during the summer period.
Miguel Pérez-Marsá, the head of the nightlife association, previously 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.” The impact is also being felt by tour guides.
Pedro Oliver, president of the College of Tour Guides, disclosed that excursion sales have plummeted by 20% this summer. “If you generate negative news, which has repercussions in other countries, tourists opt for other destinations when choosing their holidays,” he stated.
“We are sending the message that we don’t want tourists and that everything is too crowded.”