'Anti-tourism' protests are growing in cities around Europe – and while they’re not violent, they’re not far from turning ‘hostile’, according to travel expert Eoghan Corry.
For many, the summer means holidays abroad and sunny getaways – but if you live in one of these tourist destinations, summer can be nothing but a bother.
There have been protests in the Canary Islands and Venice from locals who feel the city is catering towards people who visit for a week – instead of those who live there all year.
Mr Corry explained there are three prongs to the ‘over-tourism’ debate.
“First of all, we've got these amazing cities – we do like to see the Eiffel Tower and Colosseum,” he told The Anton Savage Show.
“Cities in Europe that were built really to keep out people – narrow streets, narrow gates – have been complaining for a long time.”
The second aspect is “more worrying” as protests take place at holiday destinations.
“These protests [have] different kinds of complaints,” Mr Corry said. “[Tourists] bring noise, the traffic, the pressure on services, everything.
“Also, prices go up and pressure comes on things like accommodation.”
The third complaint is “ideological”, according to Mr Corry, as people complain about “globalisation” and the environmental impacts of tourism.
Anti-tourism protests
Mr Corry said these different arguments have surged in the past four to five years – particularly the issue of short-term rentals in cities.
He said different Governments have considered or are beginning to put more limits on Airbnbs and other rentals – but it might not make a huge difference in the housing available in a city.
“We've seen 83% of the short-term tourism rentals and holiday homes in Scotland disappear because of a measure there last October,” he said.
“And we are talking about doing something similar in Ireland.”
While anti-tourism protests haven’t developed in Ireland, Mr Corry said it wouldn’t be shocking if they did happen.
“What threatens tourists? It's real crime,” he said.
“That's what shows up in the warnings of the Department of Foreign Affairs.
“Anti-tourism protests haven't even started there, but I'm not sure we're far away from anti-tourism protests turning into something more hostile.”
Anti-tourism protest in Venice against Venice Tax fee. Image: Associated Press / Alamy Stock Photo Sipa USA / Alamy Stock Photo He noted a recent protest in Barcelona saw locals squirting water guns at tourists – although this doesn’t seem to be a “serious enough threat”.
Residents of Venice also protested a €5 entry charged introduced by the city to prevent excessive tourism – although locals believe it makes the city look like a “theme park”.
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