Syl wrote:

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Will all the publicised outrage, locals waving banners  demonstrators declaring tourists are not welcome, visitors being squirted with water pistols while they are in restaurants, slogans painted on walls, even hunger strikes ... change the way you go on holidays.

 

"British holidaymakers on Spanish holiday islands have been met with a stark message to "go home" as tensions rise over tourism levels.

Spanish residents, particularly on the Canary Islands of Tenerife and Lanzarote, are expressing their frustration over what they describe as "overtourism". The situation has escalated to the point where the Spanish government is stepping in, with protests and demonstrations expected to unfold across the popular vacation destinations."

 

 

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 Apparently you did something to them the last time you were there. 😎

Magica wrote:

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I wouldn't go there. Overrated anyway.

Greece, Croatia, Turkey at al, much better and best of all they want us!

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" Greece has joined the ranks of Lanzarote and Tenerife in calling for a 'ban' on UK tourists.

Echoing the sentiments of Majorca and Menorca against the impacts of tourism and holidays, Athens has become the latest city to voice its protest through stark graffiti messages demanding an end to 'over-tourism'. The capital's buildings are now canvases for unsettling messages aimed at visitors, with one stark warning reading: "Tourists Go Home! Greek State Kills".

Other slogans such as 'No Tourists No Hipsters' and 'Burn Airbnb' have been seen scrawled across Athens." 

'Tourists Go Home!' Greece demands 'ban' on UK tourists as harsh graffiti messages are spotted - Teesside Live (gazettelive.co.uk)

jackb wrote:

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Do they have a clue as to how important tourism is for the Spanish economy jobs etc?

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 Some authorities are stressing that tourism helps the economy, it keeps hundreds of thousands of people in jobs.

They should be looking more at their own policies. Perhaps they could limit the number of foreign people who actually buy property there, provide more accommodation for the workers in popular resorts, invest some of the millions that tourists spend there in providing for their own people.

I read that hotel workers are living in tents because they can't afford to rent properties near where they work....who's fault is that?

Vam wrote:

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At the risk of over-generalising, there will always be a minority of Germans & Brits (sorry!) in particular, who behave like entitled antisocial dickheads. They’re determined to eke out their full money’s worth out of their package holiday, with their daily piss-ups, their noise pollution, their beach/pool space-hogging, their filthy litter & their complete ignorance of safe sunbathing, which all cause additional stress on local cleaning crews, emergency medical services & the police.

But in my part of Spain, the tourists most detested by the locals (BAR NONE!) are the summer residents from Madrid, who travel to their southern villas in convoys of 2 or 3 SUVs full of bratty kids & nannies & housekeepers. They epitomise ‘entitled’, with their pushy demands, their refusal to respect a queue, & they are notoriously lousy drivers & the stingiest tippers ever! I’m not kidding - on a 200€ restaurant bill, for example, a ’Madrileno’ will usually tip 2 or 3€.  And most of the car wrecks in the summer over here are caused by vehicles with Madrid plates.

But the worst of tourist silly season out here only lasts for about 6 weeks. After which, much more civilised, relaxed, child-free adult tourists take over.

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 Good to have your views Vam, you obviously see this from a different angle.

I have to say, in April, when we hired a villa in a residential area, several villas in the surrounding area, stayed closed up for the duration we were there.

I can understand local people being upset, (the same thing has happened here in Wales, Cornwall etc) if they have nowhere to live, yet lots of property stays empty more than half the year because they are just used for holiday homes for rich people.

Syl wrote:

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Vam wrote:

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At the risk of over-generalising, there will always be a minority of Germans & Brits (sorry!) in particular, who behave like entitled antisocial dickheads. They’re determined to eke out their full money’s worth out of their package holiday, with their daily piss-ups, their noise pollution, their beach/pool space-hogging, their filthy litter & their complete ignorance of safe sunbathing, which all cause additional stress on local cleaning crews, emergency medical services & the police.

But in my part of Spain, the tourists most detested by the locals (BAR NONE!) are the summer residents from Madrid, who travel to their southern villas in convoys of 2 or 3 SUVs full of bratty kids & nannies & housekeepers. They epitomise ‘entitled’, with their pushy demands, their refusal to respect a queue, & they are notoriously lousy drivers & the stingiest tippers ever! I’m not kidding - on a 200€ restaurant bill, for example, a ’Madrileno’ will usually tip 2 or 3€.  And most of the car wrecks in the summer over here are caused by vehicles with Madrid plates.

But the worst of tourist silly season out here only lasts for about 6 weeks. After which, much more civilised, relaxed, child-free adult tourists take over.

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 Good to have your views Vam, you obviously see this from a different angle.

 

I have to say, in April, when we hired a villa in a residential area, several villas in the surrounding area, stayed closed up for the duration we were there.

 

I can understand local people being upset, (the same thing has happened here in Wales, Cornwall etc) if they have nowhere to live, yet lots of property stays empty more than half the year because they are just used for holiday homes for rich people.

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 Absolutely this 100% The folks who invest in buy-to-let out here will only rent their properties during peak holiday months. Short term rental contracts for some villas can range from upwards of 1800€ per week. Whereas the going rate for similar villas on much rarer long term contracts can go for around 1500€ a month. Really wild variations, tbf. But yes, I sure get why locals are pissed off.

Syl wrote:

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I like both...and Italy too.
If we had the weather here I would probably opt for Wales and Cornwall most of the time.

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 Yep love those two places.  Spent many a wonderful holiday in the West country, from a kid to now. 😁