San Sebastian residents protest against growing number of tourists in city

Locals in San Sebastian protested over the weekend in response to growing concerns about the negative impacts of overtourism.

The protests, which were organised by BiziLagunEkin as part of a country-wide ‘October Against Tourism’, saw residents using banners with emotive language to convey their concern about the country’s current handling of excessive tourism.

According to some, the “suffocating” tourism has made San Sebastian feel like a “soulless theme park,” while others protested under a banner that read: “We are in danger; degrow tourism,” per The Independent.

“Citizens have taken to the streets to denounce the serious consequences of tourism,” the civic association commented, adding, “The message is clear: the growth of this touristic model has exceeded all limits and, in view of this, it is essential to take measures in favour of touristic decline.”

Addressing the shortcomings in the country’s current tourism model, BiziLagunEkin proposed implementing greater protection of sites with ecological value, reducing the number of tourist apartments, and stagnating hotel license allocation.

Their manifesto also describes the current model as “suffocating” and claims overcrowding impacts “the high cost of living, the expulsion of residents, the utilization of leisure, the violation of the right to housing,” beneath which lies “structural problems that are invisible at first glance.”

Spain has one of the highest numbers of tourist visitors year after year and is expected to welcome over 90 million visitors by the end of the year. However, the last few months have seen various cities and popular holiday destinations all over the country attempt to address over-tourism, with many calling for greater restrictions.

How are other destinations responding to overtourism?

San Sebastian has become one of the most popular Spanish holiday destinations due to its picturesque beaches, coveted culinary culture, vibrant music and festival scene, plus their warm and welcoming locals. It boasts an incredible selection of high-end and Michelin-star restaurants, making it one of the best places in the world for food lovers.

However, like many destinations worldwide, San Sebastian is also experiencing the negative impacts of overcrowding, including local rent price increases, damage to local and historical property, local disturbances, and more. This has caused many local bodies and residences to voice their concerns, with some implementing new restrictions to control high tourism numbers.

For instance, Marseille, a city in southern France, recently announced a new proposal to tackle over-tourism in the city with new restrictions on short-term lets. The Andalusian city of Seville also implemented a similar infrastructure to curb the impact of over-tourism on rent prices in popular destinations.

Many cities worldwide are beginning to launch caps on let licenses, as Barcelona and Madrid recently announced plans to execute a similar restriction, with Barcelona planning a full ban by the end of 2028. Majorca, Croatia, Greece, Montenegro, Dubrovnik, and more are also introducing new restrictions ranging from bans on local disturbances to fines issued to those walking around without shirts on or drinking in public places.

With protests now breaking out, it’s clear the impact of overcrowding is intensifying by the day. Governments and political figures face tough decisions about prioritising local residences while considering tourism’s positive and negative economic impacts.