Zoe Strimpel Zoe Strimpel

Europe’s war on tourists is no laughing matter

Barcelona's mayor has pledged to boot Airbnb out of the city (Getty)

‘Enough! Let’s put a stop to tourism!’ So goes the slogan to be bellowed at a planned protest on 6 July in Barcelona. The city’s mayor has pledged to drive Airbnb out of the city within five years by revoking more than 10,000 licenses for short-term tourist rentals. The announcement follows anti-tourist protests in Mallorca, and the Canary Islands which, like France’s indiscriminately angry gilets-jaunes, has begun with a specific beef that will likely become raggedy and riot-prone as times goes by. This year also saw the introduction of a tourist tax in Venice (reports suggest it’s completely unenforced), and clampdowns in Amsterdam, including a reported ban on the building of new hotels. Welcome to Europe’s war on tourists.

As we in Blighty have long since worked out: spite the tourists, spite yourself 

It’s true that the pricing out of locals by Airbnb buyers and developers does lessen the authentic charms of a place, for residents and tourists alike.

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