Growing Anti-Tourism Movement Across Europe in 2025
What Is Driving the Anti-Tourism Movement Accross Europe?
The anti-tourism movement reflects growing frustration with the economic and social disruptions caused by overtourism. Local residents in Europe’s urban hubs are increasingly at odds with short-term tourist rentals, overcrowded attractions, and the cost-of-living crisis, which is pricing locals out of their homes.
In 2024, protests surged across hotspots like Barcelona, Rome, and Paris, with activists targeting cruise ships, property investors, and even major events like the Paris Summer Olympics. These protests have grown more disruptive, often resulting in vandalism, sabotage, and widespread unrest. Understanding these dynamics is essential for businesses, policymakers, and investors navigating Europe’s urban environment.
What Is Overtourism Doing to Europe’s Housing Markets?
Rising rents are at the heart of the anti-tourism movement. Popular destinations such as Barcelona, Amsterdam, and Valencia have seen rental prices skyrocket as property owners prioritise short-term rentals for tourists over long-term tenants. In Turin, for example, rents surged by 37% in 2024 alone. This trend has created a housing crisis, forcing students, young professionals, and long-time residents out of urban centers.
What’s inside:
- Rising Rents and Urban Displacement: The economic factors driving anti-tourism protests.
- Overtourism Hotspots: Cities most at risk in 2025, from Barcelona to Bologna.
- The Role of Policy: How governments are responding – and why it may not be enough.
- Extreme Weather and Tourism: How natural disasters fuel anti-tourism sentiment.
- Protest Predictions for 2025: New regions and cities where unrest is likely to emerge.
Download the Full Report