House » Greece » Greece Journey Information » Now, Mexico Joins Spain, Italy, Portugal, France, Greece, Croatia, and Extra in World Protest Wave In opposition to Overtourism, Warning That Mass Journey and Brief-Time period Leases Are Driving Locals Out
Saturday, July 5, 2025
Now Mexico has joined Spain, Italy, Portugal, France, Greece, Croatia, and extra in a world protest wave towards overtourism as a result of locals throughout these nations say mass journey and short-term leases are driving them out of their very own houses, inflating rents, and eroding the cultural material of their cities. From violent road protests in Mexico Metropolis to inventive resistance in Barcelona and cruise restrictions in France, every nation is sounding the alarm in its personal manner—demanding sustainable options as vacationer arrivals surge previous pre-pandemic ranges and the steadiness between native life and international journey reaches a breaking level.
Mexico Metropolis Erupts as Locals Say They’ve Had Sufficient of ‘Gringo Gentrification’
Mexico is now firmly within the international highlight—not only for its booming customer numbers, however for the backlash it has sparked at house. On July 4, 2025, Mexico Metropolis grew to become the epicenter of a dramatic protest towards overtourism and unchecked gentrification. What started as a peaceable daytime demonstration rapidly changed into a unstable standoff by evening, with storefronts smashed, anti-tourist graffiti sprayed throughout glass panels, and tensions boiling over within the capital’s most touristic neighborhoods.
The march began in Roma and Condesa—two leafy, café-lined districts which have remodeled over the previous few years into havens for distant staff, short-term renters, and overseas traders. These areas, as soon as prized for his or her bohemian attraction and sense of neighborhood, have turn into symbols of the housing disaster now gripping the town. Longtime residents are being priced out as house buildings are flipped into boutique leases, rents skyrocket, and conventional companies give technique to fashionable eateries geared toward vacationers.
Protesters walked by way of the streets holding indicators that learn “Gringos, stop stealing our home” and “Regulate tourism now.” The demonstration made its manner by way of metro stations, then surged towards the U.S. Embassy, the place authorities responded by deploying police reinforcements. That evening, a smaller group splintered off, shattering home windows, looting shops, and immediately confronting some overseas guests within the space. Spray-painted messages like “Get out of Mexico” left little room for interpretation.
However this anger didn’t erupt in a vacuum. It has been constructing for years, fueled by a relentless surge in worldwide arrivals and the rise of digital nomads. In 2024, Mexico welcomed a staggering 45 million worldwide vacationers, marking a 7.4% enhance year-over-year—a determine that formally pushed the nation previous its pre-pandemic customer ranges. A lot of this development got here from america, Canada, and Argentina, whose residents make up a good portion of inbound vacationers. And in early 2025, the development continued: air arrivals alone grew by 3.5% within the first quarter, placing much more strain on native infrastructure, housing, and on a regular basis life.
Whereas tourism stays a cornerstone of Mexico’s economic system, the advantages haven’t been evenly distributed. Residents of Mexico Metropolis are more and more discovering themselves priced out of their very own neighborhoods. Rents in central districts have doubled and even tripled in some circumstances, largely because of the dominance of short-term leases and overseas buying energy. What was as soon as an inexpensive metropolis for locals has, in lots of circumstances, turn into a luxurious vacation spot for foreigners—and that has left many Mexicans feeling dispossessed.
This newest protest, although sparked by the capital’s housing disaster, is a part of a a lot bigger, international wave. World wide, cities are rising up towards the pressures of mass tourism, and now, Mexico has joined that refrain. The message from the streets of Mexico Metropolis was loud and clear: with out pressing reforms, the very soul of the town—and the individuals who constructed it—can be pushed out in favor of short-term revenue.
Mexico – Mexico Metropolis, Oaxaca, Cancún
Mexico Metropolis
Discover the historic heart together with the Zócalo, Nationwide Palace, and Metropolitan CathedralVisit Chapultepec Park, house to Chapultepec Fortress and a number of other world-class museumsDiscover the Frida Kahlo Museum in Coyoacán and float alongside the Xochimilco canals
Oaxaca
Wander by way of the colourful colonial streets and markets of Oaxaca CityVisit Monte Albán, a pre-Columbian archaeological web site overlooking the valleyEnjoy native delicacies comparable to mole and tlayudas at Mercado 20 de Noviembre
Cancún
Loosen up on the white-sand seashores and turquoise waters of the Lodge ZoneTake a day journey to Isla Mujeres or the Mayan ruins of Tulum and Chichén ItzáSnorkel or dive within the underwater museum (MUSA) or close by cenotesSpain’s Tourism Growth Sparks Nationwide Rebellion as Locals Push Again on Airbnb and Cruise Crowds
Spain could also be certainly one of Europe’s most visited nations, however in 2025, it has additionally turn into one of many loudest in its revolt towards overtourism. From seaside resorts to bustling city facilities, Spaniards are standing up, taking to the streets, and demanding that their cities be reclaimed from what they describe because the takeover of short-term leases, cruise ship swarms, and hire hikes which have turned every day life right into a battle for area.
The protest wave reached a fever pitch on June 15, 2025, when residents in additional than a dozen cities participated in an enormous, coordinated demonstration throughout the nation. Organized as a part of a broader Southern European motion, the Spanish protests had been among the many most intense. In Barcelona, 1000’s gathered at Jardinets de Gràcia, then marched by way of in style areas flooded with vacationers. Armed with water pistols, stickers, banners, and uncooked frustration, they sprayed at guests, symbolically pushing them again. Some blocked restaurant entrances. Others chanted “Tourists go home” and taped up indicators that learn “Your Airbnb was my home.”
However Barcelona wasn’t alone. Protests erupted concurrently in Palma de Mallorca, Ibiza, San Sebastián, Valencia, Granada, Menorca, Tenerife, Málaga, Bilbao, Sevilla, and Cantabria. In Palma, demonstrators staged theatrical shows, guiding vacationers to pretend “dangerous beaches” in a inventive act of protest. In Ibiza, banners and bullhorns confronted beachgoers and celebration crowds. Throughout the nation, a single message rang clear: tourism has crossed the road, and residents are not keen to remain silent.
Spain Protest Highlights: June 15, 2025Organized by: “Southern Europe Against Touristification” networkMain slogans: “Tourists go home,” “Mass tourism kills the city,” “Your Airbnb was my home”Ways used:Spraying vacationers with water pistolsBlocking restaurant entrancesPosting anti-Airbnb stickers and bannersRedirecting guests to pretend harmful seashores (Mallorca)Cities concerned:BarcelonaPalma de MallorcaIbizaSan Sebastián (Donostia)ValenciaGranadaMenorcaCanary Islands (Tenerife)MálagaBilbaoSevillaCantabriaEarlier Protest Occasions:July 6, 2024 – Barcelona: Vacationers sprayed with water pistols alongside Las RamblasApril 2025 – Barcelona: Tour buses blocked on the Sagrada FamíliaMarch 2025 – Mallorca: Open letter issued urging vacationers to not visitApril 2025 – Spain-wide: Technique workshops held to plan June protests
All of this comes towards the backdrop of a tourism business that continues to develop at breakneck velocity. Between January and Might 2025, Spain welcomed greater than 35 million worldwide guests, a 5.5% enhance in comparison with the identical interval the earlier 12 months. In Might alone, arrivals hit 9.4 million, and within the first quarter of 2025, 17.1 million vacationers poured into the nation—up 5.7% year-over-year. These numbers comply with a record-setting 2024, which closed with an estimated 94 million guests, formally putting Spain among the many prime international tourism locations.
However with development has come disruption. Whole neighborhoods, particularly in cities like Barcelona and Madrid, have been remodeled into hubs for short-stay leases and cruise arrivals. Native retailers have shuttered to make room for international chains and memento stands. Rents have surged far past what locals can afford, notably in areas like El Raval, Gràcia, and Barceloneta. Some residents now dwell surrounded by Airbnb models, rotating crowds, and round the clock noise.
For a lot of Spaniards, the disaster isn’t nearly economics—it’s about dropping their lifestyle. They see their neighborhoods morphing into transient zones for outsiders, whereas the residents who constructed these communities are being priced out or pushed to the margins. Although tourism has lengthy been central to Spain’s economic system, many now say it’s time for limits—rules that shield the individuals who dwell, work, and lift households in these cities.
Spain’s protest motion could have began in pockets, however by mid-2025, it had grown right into a nationwide voice. And that voice is looking not for the tip of tourism—however for a model that coexists with native life, as an alternative of overwhelming it.
Spain – Barcelona, Madrid, Seville
Barcelona
Go to the Sagrada Família, Park Güell, and Casa Batlló by Antoni GaudíWalk by way of the Gothic Quarter and revel in contemporary meals at La Boqueria MarketRelax at Barceloneta Seashore or take a cable automotive as much as Montjuïc Hill
Madrid
Tour the Prado Museum, Royal Palace, and Retiro ParkExperience native tradition in neighborhoods like Malasaña and La LatinaWatch a flamenco present and take a look at tapas in conventional taverns
Seville
Discover the Actual Alcázar, Seville Cathedral, and the Giralda TowerStroll by way of the Barrio Santa Cruz and alongside the Guadalquivir RiverWatch a dwell flamenco efficiency and go to Plaza de EspañaItaly’s Appeal Meets Resistance as Protesters Push Again on Mass Tourism and Cultural Exploitation
Italy, the land of Renaissance masterpieces and postcard-perfect coastlines, has lengthy been a dream vacation spot. However in 2025, locals throughout the nation have begun pushing again, declaring that the romance of tourism has changed into an on a regular basis battle. From Venice’s fragile canals to the crowded streets of Milan and Naples, Italians are demanding change—they usually’re taking their message to the streets.
On June 15, 2025, Italy joined a coordinated wave of anti-tourism protests that swept throughout Southern Europe. Marches erupted in Venice, Genoa, Palermo, Milan, and Naples, uniting communities round one highly effective message: sufficient is sufficient. For years, Italy has been navigating a love-hate relationship with tourism, however this time, the protests carried a brand new urgency.
In Venice, the demonstration wasn’t simply symbolic—it had tooth. Protesters flooded in style walkways and canalside promenades, waving indicators denouncing overcrowding, short-term leases, and the limitless stream of cruise ships that now dominate the lagoon. The temper was already tense after the town’s latest controversial dealing with of ultra-rich wedding ceremony visitors, together with the now-famous protests that compelled the relocation of Jeff Bezos’s celebration in June. This time, although, the discontent was louder and extra unified.
In the meantime, in Milan, locals marched by way of gentrified neighborhoods, the place international retailers and upscale leases have changed long-standing neighborhood companies. Palermo, Genoa, and Naples joined the cost as properly, with residents condemning tourism’s position in pricing out locals, displacing cultural areas, and overloading infrastructure by no means constructed to deal with thousands and thousands of holiday makers every season.
Italy Protest Highlights: June 15, 2025Cities concerned:VeniceGenoaPalermoMilanNaplesTactics used:Road marches in historic centersSigns demanding regulation of short-term rentalsAnti-cruise ship banners alongside coastal routesProtests towards tourist-driven gentrificationContext:Venice’s picture as a metropolis “sold to the highest bidder” was spotlightedRecent outrage over luxurious tourism occasions (e.g., Bezos wedding ceremony protests) intensified requires reform
All of that is occurring as Italy continues to experience a wave of tourism development. In 2024, the nation recorded 68.5 million vacationer arrivals, a major leap from 61.3 million in 2023. Between January and August 2024 alone, 48.9 million vacationers poured in, with April 2025 alone seeing 5.9 million arrivals. By Might 2025, Italy had already ranked because the fifth most-visited nation on the earth, nearing 65 million annual guests, with extra anticipated throughout peak summer season.
However these numbers, whereas celebrated by tourism officers, inform a really totally different story on the bottom. In cities like Venice, locals are being compelled out of their houses to make manner for trip leases and short-stay models. Housing affordability has cratered in Florence, Rome, and Bologna. In Naples, the town’s character is shifting underneath the load of funds airline drop-ins and Instagram-driven foot site visitors. The identical crowds that assist increase income have additionally stretched public providers skinny and diluted native traditions into vacationer performances.
For a lot of Italians, the protests aren’t about rejecting tourism altogether. They’re about defending the soul of their communities—earlier than it’s packaged, commodified, and bought again to them. Residents say they need regulation, not eradication: guidelines to curb short-term leases, handle cruise ship site visitors, and be certain that tourism doesn’t overwhelm every day life.
Italy’s choice to hitch this 12 months’s coordinated anti-tourism motion marks a turning level. Lengthy seen as one of the crucial iconic locations on Earth, the nation is now additionally a logo of how tourism—when left unchecked—can distort the very factor that makes a spot price visiting.
Italy – Rome, Venice, Florence
Rome
Go to the Colosseum, Roman Discussion board, and Vatican Metropolis together with the Sistine ChapelThrow a coin into the Trevi Fountain and climb the Spanish StepsDine in Trastevere and discover hidden piazzas
Venice
Take a gondola experience by way of the canals and go to St. Mark’s BasilicaExplore the Doge’s Palace and Rialto BridgeDiscover Murano and Burano islands by vaporetto
Florence
Admire Renaissance artwork on the Uffizi and Accademia GalleriesClimb to the highest of Florence Cathedral (Duomo) and stroll throughout Ponte VecchioVisit the Boboli Gardens and revel in Tuscan delicacies at native trattoriasPortugal Fights Again as Lisbon Leads the Cost In opposition to Airbnb Takeover and Vacationer Crowds
Portugal could have turn into certainly one of Europe’s hottest journey locations over the previous decade, however now it’s additionally one of many loudest voices demanding a course correction. Within the capital metropolis of Lisbon, residents are saying “basta” to runaway tourism that’s pricing them out, hollowing out neighborhoods, and reworking their houses into short-term rental empires.
On June 15, 2025, Portugal joined a sweeping wave of coordinated anti-tourism protests throughout Southern Europe. Whereas the protests in Spain and Italy made headlines with their scale, the Lisbon demonstration introduced the identical power—and the identical sense of urgency. Protesters gathered within the metropolis heart, wielding banners denouncing overtourism, hire spikes, and the destruction of genuine neighborhood life. The march wasn’t simply symbolic—it was a direct confrontation with the forces reshaping Portugal’s cities.
Organizers and residents used the day to voice anger over how Airbnb and different platforms have consumed whole neighborhoods, turning residential blocks into revolving doorways for vacationers. Within the historic Alfama and Bairro Alto districts, locals say they now dwell amongst suitcase wheels, celebration noise, and rising rents as an alternative of neighbors and household. Some houses have been changed into ghost buildings—occupied 5 nights every week however owned by overseas traders who by no means present up.
Portugal Protest Highlights: June 15, 2025City concerned:Lisbon (major protest location)Ways used:Mass marches by way of central neighborhoodsDemonstrators displayed “Airbnb Out!” and “Lisbon is Not for Sale” bannersProtesters distributed flyers and mock eviction notices to boost awarenessEffigies and visible props depicted displaced households and disappearing communitiesCore calls for:Stricter rules on short-term rentalsCaps on cruise ship arrivalsAffordable housing insurance policies for locals
The protests echoed earlier rumblings from 2024, when communities started organizing round the concept Portugal’s housing disaster and overtourism drawback had been deeply related. Lisbon, Porto, and even smaller cities like Faro have seen hovering property costs, partly because of actual property hypothesis and tourism-driven improvement.
And the customer numbers again it up. In 2024, Portugal recorded 31.6 million visitors, together with 19.4 million worldwide vacationers—a 6.3% enhance from the earlier 12 months. The nation additionally logged roughly 78 million in a single day stays between January and October 2024 alone. That development has continued steadily into 2025, with an estimated 5% enhance in customer arrivals already reported.
Whereas Portugal’s economic system has actually benefited from this rise, many locals really feel they’ve been pushed apart within the title of revenue. In neighborhoods as soon as identified for fado music echoing by way of alleyways, residents now complain that silence is purchased by traders and bought nightly to the very best bidder. Conventional cafés have made manner for brunch spots and memento retailers, and cultural authenticity has more and more turn into a tourism product, slightly than a lived expertise.
For a lot of, Lisbon’s protest wasn’t nearly numbers—it was about reclaiming identification. Individuals took to the streets to say their proper to remain in their very own metropolis. They demanded that Portugal not simply welcome vacationers, but additionally shield the individuals and locations that made it lovely within the first place.
By becoming a member of the June 15 motion, Portugal made it clear: it’s time to hit pause, rethink priorities, and strike a greater steadiness between welcoming the world and retaining house livable.
Portugal – Lisbon, Porto, Faro
Lisbon
Journey Tram 28 by way of historic Alfama and Graça districtsVisit the Jerónimos Monastery, Belém Tower, and MAAT museumWatch the sundown from Miradouro da Senhora do Monte and revel in dwell fado music
Porto
Stroll alongside the Ribeira waterfront and cross the Dom Luís I BridgeSample port wine at cellars in Vila Nova de GaiaExplore Livraria Lello and Clérigos Tower
Faro
Wander the Previous City (Cidade Velha) and go to the Arco da VilaTake a ship tour by way of the Ria Formosa Pure ParkRelax on close by seashores like Praia de Faro or Ilha DesertaFrance Attracts the Line with Cruise Limits and Cultural Employee Strikes Amid Overtourism Strains
France has lengthy been the world’s most visited nation—however in recent times, the welcome mat has include a warning. Whereas the French haven’t taken to the streets in the identical numbers as their Southern European neighbors, the message from cultural establishments and native governments is obvious: overtourism is beginning to take a toll, and the strain to behave is rising.
Not like in Spain, Italy, or Portugal, France’s anti-tourism push hasn’t been led by mass marches—it’s been formed extra by coverage motion and worker-led disruptions. In June 2025, museum workers on the Louvre in Paris staged a sudden strike, shutting down the world’s most visited museum in a daring protest towards overcrowding, understaffing, and what they known as “inhuman” working circumstances. The strike made headlines worldwide and highlighted the stress between cultural preservation and mass tourism income.
On the similar time, cities alongside the French Riviera took a distinct type of stand. In Cannes, officers launched sweeping new cruise ship restrictions, saying that by 2026, vessels carrying greater than 1,000–5,000 passengers would not be allowed to dock close to metropolis shores. As an alternative, bigger ships can be diverted offshore to forestall every day vacationer floods from overwhelming the historic port. In Good, comparable caps had been launched, limiting port entry to only one cruise ship per day in a bid to ease crowding and air pollution.
France Anti-Tourism Response SummaryProtest model:No mass road protests reported in 2025Worker-led strike on the Louvre Museum highlighted labor and crowding issuesPolicy-driven response in Riviera cities: Cannes, NiceActions taken:Cannes: Ban on cruise ships over 5,000 passengers by 2026Nice: Port restrictions restrict entry to at least one cruise ship per dayGovernment supported planning workshops with protest organizers from Spain and ItalyKey considerations:Cultural web site overcrowdingStrain on public providers and employee conditionsDisplacement of native companies in metropolis facilities
Regardless of these considerations, France stays a tourism big. In 2024, the nation welcomed between 100 and 101 million worldwide guests, a modest enhance over 2023 figures. Knowledge from the World Journey and Tourism Council (WTTC) means that round 89.4 million of these had been doubtless in a single day vacationers. The hole is defined by day trippers, border-crossing vacationers, and cruise visitors, lots of whom solely spend hours in French locations with out contributing meaningfully to the native economic system.
Whereas the numbers are spectacular, they arrive at a value. In cities like Paris, Marseille, Good, Lyon, and Strasbourg, residents have reported rising rents, crowded transit, and a lack of native identification in once-vibrant neighborhoods. Conventional cafés and bookshops have been changed with memento shops and chain accommodations. And in areas comparable to Montmartre and the Marais, native households are more and more priced out by traders changing residences into high-turnover vacationer flats.
France’s strategy to the overtourism disaster is delicate however agency. Moderately than sweeping protests, the nation is popping to regulation, labor advocacy, and preservation insurance policies to push again. The latest Louvre strike and port restrictions sign a shift in tone—a reminder that France, whereas open to the world, isn’t keen to sacrifice its cultural heritage and neighborhood stability for the sake of ever-growing customer numbers.
In becoming a member of the broader dialog—and taking motion the place it counts—France has made it clear that tourism should be sustainable, respectful, and constructed to serve each visitors and the individuals who name these cities house.
France – Paris, Good, Lyon
Paris
Go to the Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum, and Notre-Dame CathedralWalk alongside the Seine, by way of Montmartre, and round Le MaraisExplore the Palace of Versailles on a day journey
Good
Stroll the Promenade des Anglais and discover the Previous City (Vieux Good)Go to the Matisse Museum and Fortress Hill for panoramic viewsEnjoy contemporary seafood and Provençal markets
Lyon
Uncover the historic previous city (Vieux Lyon) and climb Fourvière HillTour the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière and Roman amphitheatersTaste conventional Lyonnaise delicacies in bouchons and discover traboules (secret passages)Greece Reaches Breaking Level as Locals Demand Reduction From Vacationer Overload and Labor Pressure
In Greece, the golden glow of its islands, historical ruins, and postcard views continues to lure thousands and thousands—however beneath the floor, there’s a rising sense that the nation’s tourism success is changing into unsustainable. Whereas Greece hasn’t seen large anti-tourism marches like these in Spain or Mexico, frustration is mounting—particularly among the many individuals who energy its tourism business.
In October 2024, Greek tourism staff staged a coordinated protest to highlight a problem that’s been quietly constructing for years: burnout. Airport floor crews, lodge workers, and archaeological web site staff throughout Athens, Thessaloniki, and main islands like Santorini and Crete organized walkouts and public demonstrations. Their calls for had been clear—truthful wages, affordable working hours, and a voice in how the nation handles the ever-growing waves of worldwide vacationers.
Moderately than directing anger at guests, Greece’s protests have targeted inward, focusing on authorities inaction and company revenue constructions which have left tourism staff underpaid and overworked. Protesters handed out flyers at main ports and airports, urging vacationers to acknowledge that the picturesque trip comes at a value—borne by the very individuals who make these experiences potential.
Whereas labor was the face of the protest, the deeper subject stays: overtourism is stretching Greece’s sources to the restrict. And the numbers help that concern. In 2024, Greece recorded 40.7 million vacationer arrivals, a shocking 12.8% enhance from 2023. This increase drove the nation’s journey providers surplus to over €18.8 billion, however the advantages haven’t been felt equally. For a lot of locals, the surge has meant extra site visitors, housing shortages in in style locations, and primary providers being overwhelmed throughout peak season.
Greece Protest Highlights and Tourism PressureMain protest exercise:October 2024 – Labor protests by tourism and hospitality workersLocations concerned:Athens, Thessaloniki, Santorini, Crete, RhodesTactics used:Walkouts and arranged demonstrationsLeaflets distributed to vacationers at airports and portsKey calls for:Larger wages for tourism workersImproved work circumstances and hoursRegulation to ease strain on public servicesUnderlying subject:Oblique pushback towards overtourism’s pressure on every day life and native infrastructure
In Santorini, locals have lengthy known as for a cap on cruise ship arrivals, as every day landings typically exceed 17,000 passengers, flooding slender streets and historical paths not designed for such foot site visitors. Officers have proposed a delicate cap of 8,000 guests per day, however enforcement stays free. On different islands, housing for seasonal staff is drying up, as landlords go for higher-paying short-term visitors.
Whereas Greece hasn’t embraced the type of tourist-targeted protests seen in different nations, its workforce is making its voice heard—and locals are rising extra vocal in demanding a greater steadiness between welcoming vacationers and preserving the standard of life for residents.
The message from Greece is obvious: the nation stays pleased with its position as a world tourism chief, but it surely can not proceed at this tempo with out burning out the very individuals and locations that make it particular. Until tourism turns into extra sustainable, the birthplace of hospitality could quickly discover itself overwhelmed by the load of its personal reputation.
Greece – Athens, Santorini, Thessaloniki
Athens
Discover the Acropolis, Parthenon, and Historic AgoraWalk by way of Plaka and Monastiraki neighborhoodsVisit the Nationwide Archaeological Museum and dine on rooftop terraces
Santorini
Watch the sundown in Oia and go to the clifftop village of FiraRelax on the crimson, black, and white sand beachesExplore the ruins of Akrotiri and pattern native wines
Thessaloniki
Go to the White Tower, Rotunda, and Byzantine wallsExplore native meals markets and cafes alongside Tsimiski StreetEnjoy the waterfront promenade and vibrant nightlife sceneCroatia Walks a Tightrope as Locals Name for Sustainability Over Saturation
Croatia’s coastal cities have turn into a few of Europe’s most photographed and visited locations in recent times—however behind the scenic façades of Dubrovnik’s Previous City and the pebbled shores of Cut up, the strain of overtourism is constructing. Whereas the nation hasn’t witnessed mass anti-tourism protests like these in Spain, Italy, or Mexico, a quieter resistance is underway—one pushed by native frustration, coverage debates, and mounting considerations in regards to the future.
The core of Croatia’s battle is straightforward: its economic system depends closely on tourism, but the very business that fuels its development is threatening to undermine the standard of life for residents. In Dubrovnik, one of many nation’s most iconic vacationer hotspots, the cracks have been exhibiting for years. Locals have watched as their metropolis has been overtaken by cruise ship crowds, short-term leases, and selfie-stick wielding guests drawn by “Game of Thrones” fame. Whole house blocks have been transformed into Airbnbs. Grocery shops and household companies have been changed by gelato retailers and memento stands.
Whereas residents haven’t taken to the streets en masse, metropolis officers have responded with pressing steps to deal with overtourism. Dubrovnik’s native authorities froze the issuance of recent short-term rental permits in 2024 and has been experimenting with cruise ship caps and customer administration techniques. Different cities, together with Cut up, Zadar, and Rovinj, have joined the dialogue, pushing for extra sustainable tourism fashions earlier than issues spiral additional uncontrolled.
Croatia’s Overtourism Response HighlightsProtest standing:No mass public demonstrations in 2024–2025Cities main reform efforts:Dubrovnik (most lively), Cut up, Zadar, RovinjGovernment actions taken:Freeze on new Airbnb-style permits in DubrovnikCruise ship arrival caps and port scheduling techniques introducedMain considerations raised by locals:Displacement of residents in historic centersSeasonal pressure on infrastructure (waste, water, transport)Lack of cultural authenticity and rising price of residing
These considerations are hardly unfounded. In 2024, Croatia welcomed roughly 21.3 million guests, marking a 4% enhance over 2023. Of these, an estimated 20.2 million arrivals stayed in business lodging—up 3.9% year-over-year. This development has been largely fueled by summer season journey, cruise tourism, and a surge of European metropolis hoppers. Cities like Dubrovnik now routinely obtain a number of cruise ships per day, unleashing 1000’s of passengers onto small medieval streets inside hours.
The seasonal imbalance is stark. For a lot of the 12 months, particularly throughout summer season peaks, locals report feeling “pushed aside” in their very own cities. Housing turns into scarce, rents spike briefly, and every day providers—like trash assortment and water—are stretched to their limits. In locations like Hvar and Korčula, even locals who rely on tourism economically say the mannequin has turn into too aggressive, crowding out the very tradition and calm that when made these locations particular.
Croatia could not but have seen widespread road protests, however the undercurrent of discontent is actual. By means of municipal motion, coverage change, and native advocacy, the nation is beginning to push again—not towards vacationers, however towards the unchecked tempo of tourism development. It’s a fragile steadiness: to protect a booming business with out letting it swallow communities complete.
On this quiet however decided motion, Croatia is exhibiting that protest doesn’t at all times include banners and bullhorns. Generally, it begins with native leaders saying “enough,” and a metropolis selecting individuals over earnings.
Croatia – Dubrovnik, Cut up, Zagreb
Dubrovnik
Stroll the traditional metropolis partitions and go to Fort LovrijenacExplore the Previous City and Rector’s PalaceTake a cable automotive to Mount Srđ for panoramic views
Cut up
Tour Diocletian’s Palace and the Cathedral of Saint DomniusRelax on Bačvice Seashore and stroll the Riva promenadeVisit Marjan Hill for nature trails and metropolis views
Zagreb
Discover the medieval Higher City and St. Mark’s ChurchVisit the Museum of Damaged Relationships and Dolac MarketWalk by way of Maksimir Park and revel in espresso tradition
Now Mexico has joined Spain, Italy, Portugal, France, Greece, Croatia, and extra in a rising international protest wave towards overtourism, as residents say mass journey and short-term leases are driving up rents, displacing locals, and threatening the character of their cities. This backlash is fueled by record-breaking customer numbers and rising frustration over insurance policies that prioritize revenue over livability.
As international journey continues to rebound and vacationer numbers attain all-time highs, the rising wave of protests from Mexico to Southern Europe alerts a deeper reckoning. Locals in these locations are not keen to silently bear the prices of overtourism—from rising rents and misplaced housing to the erosion of cultural identification. Whereas every nation is responding in its personal manner—by way of protests, coverage reforms, or community-led motion—the message is identical: tourism should be rebalanced to serve not simply guests, however the individuals who name these locations house.
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