Locals in seaside town stage new anti-tourism protest | World | News

A fresh wave of anti-tourism backlash in Spain saw residents block tourists from accessing a popular beach on the weekend.

Locals in O Morrazo, Galicia, have long complained about the strain tourists have placed on their popular seaside town, with particular ire directed at the number of cars left by tourists who go to the beach.

Anger spilt over into an unusual protest on the weekend, which saw residents continuously walking across a pedestrian crossing as a way to block tourists from reaching the nearby beach. Footage of the innovative protest went viral on Spanish social media on Sunday.

Around 80 fed-up locals took part in the protest, claiming that “bad manners” from tourists were “shameful”.

The blockade only lasted around 20 minutes but the frustrated locals are hoping it will send a message.

Esperanza Veiga, one of the angry residents, said: “We’re fed up with cars parking wherever they want, with impunity and no fines.

“Every year it gets worse, we’ve reached our limit.”

It is not the first time the unusual tactic has been deployed.

Also over the same weekend, residents protested in Cangas de Morrazo, another seaside town in Galicia.

More than 50 residents occupied the pedestrian crossing and disrupted road traffic for 37 minutes.

Mercedes Villar, president of the Pinténs neighbourhood association, said: “Everyone has the right to go to the beaches, but residents also have the right to live.”

He complained that the number of tourists had led to an overwhelming amount of traffic, which had blocked people’s private spaces, paths, house entrances, and even no-parking zones.

Mr Villar said: “Traffic problems are already common, but this year they have tripled at least. It is an avalanche of cars that not only pollutes but affects everyone’s life because they park wherever they want.

“Now they don’t respect sidewalks or even the road itself. We can’t even walk on the street; they park cars on private paths, in front of garages, on yellow lines, causing serious harm to residents. We need help so people don’t park like this.”

He insisted that the angry locals are “not against tourism” but instead demand “co-existence” and “a right to maintain a quality of life”.

Campaigners told reporters that Sunday was picked as a protest day because it was particularly sunny weather which would attract more tourists.

It is the latest in a series of protests against overtourism erupting across Spain.

The country is thought to have welcomed more than 40 million holidaymakers this summer.

Regions such as the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands and Catalonia are particularly affected by overtourism.

Residents there frequently take to the streets to demand more control.

They complain of noise pollution, congested roads and soaring rents.