Cities like Barcelona are increasingly seen as lifestyle backdrops, where residents feel like strangers due to the rise of overtourism and anti-tourism sentiments rooted in cross-border solidarity to preserve local communities.

The influx of tourists and expats has transformed neighborhoods and shifted the local economy to cater more to foreign tastes, with an increase in English-named cafes and tourist-oriented businesses, especially post-COVID-19.

Some expats, such as Laura, have noticed a decrease in tourist presence, leading to quieter streets and a sense that visitors no longer feel welcome, impacting local businesses.

Long-term residents like British expat Gemma Askham, who moved to Barcelona in 2017, describe significant changes in the city, including frustrations over overtourism and anti-tourism protests, especially after the pandemic.

The rise in foreign residents and tourists, coupled with anti-tourism protests driven by movements like SET, has fundamentally altered Barcelona’s social and economic fabric.

Following protests and anti-tourism sentiments, parts of Barcelona have become noticeably quieter, with social media videos capturing empty streets and a decline in tourist activity.

Local residents, including older community members, express confusion and frustration over new tourist behaviors, such as queuing for unfamiliar foods like avocado toast and the proliferation of English-language establishments.

Community projects like pedestrianisation efforts have been overshadowed by the growth of foreign businesses, exemplified by clusters of English-themed cafes that alter the city’s local character.

Protests against tourism in Barcelona, led by groups like SET, aim to protect residents’ quality of life, emphasizing that their movement is about supporting locals and maintaining the city’s identity, not opposing tourism outright.

Experts like Professor Marina Novelli highlight that these anti-tourism movements are rooted in cross-border solidarity, seeking to preserve local communities from the negative impacts of overtourism.