Major city launches harsh tourist crackdown as locals revolt over massive crowds

As European destinations continue their crackdown on overtourism, a popular city has declared, "Not one tourist more."

Barcelona, Spain, has emerged as one of Europe’s most forceful opponents of mass tourism in recent years. Now, the commissioner for sustainable tourism, José Antonio Donaire, is doubling down on the city's efforts to prevent overcrowding.

Cruise passengers visiting Barcelona for less than 12 hours could pay €30, or about $35, in combined taxes, according to Cruise Industry News.

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After a July 15 committee meeting, Barcelona moved to seek the maximum €24, or about $27, tax on cruise visitors staying under 12 hours, the outlet reported.

The proposed amount would triple the €8, or roughly $9, municipal rate previously planned. 

"Barcelona began rethinking tourism with innovative measures like the moratorium on new hotel construction back in 2017 … many of the measures will take time before they have an impact. But the message of the city now is: Not one tourist more," Donaire recently told The New York Times in an interview.

Catalonia, the northeastern region where Barcelona is located, attracted some 20.1 million tourists, 0.6% more than in 2024, according to The Associated Press (AP).

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Rising housing prices, overwhelmed public transport and a flood of tourists in historic districts have angered locals, according to Reuters. 

But nothing has been more irksome to residents than the massive overcrowding, the Times reported.

In May, Barcelona mayor Jaume Collboni said he wants cruise passengers to pay up to $9.30 (8 euros) per night, a 100% increase from the current $4.65 rate (4 euros).

The news was reported by El País, Spain's paper of record, after Collboni appeared on the local network Betevé.

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"We don’t want to grow more. We want the tourists that the city already has. There were 15.7 million tourists in the city in 2025 — that’s the threshold. Sixteen million is the maximum," Donaire told the Times.

Starting April 1, Barcelona nearly doubled its hotel guest tax, hiking it from $5-$9 to $10-$17 per person, per night, Fox News Digital previously reported.

Barcelona citizens held a large protest last summer, with some even spraying tourists with water guns, Fox News Digital previously reported — as happened in 2024 as well. 

Demonstrators marched with signs saying, "One more tourist, one less resident," and "Tourist go home." The demonstrators are demanding a reworking of their local economy.

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Andreu Martínez of Spain humorously said in July 2024 that the use of squirt guns was to annoy the tourists a bit.

"Barcelona has been handed to the tourists," said Martínez. "This is a fight to give Barcelona back to its residents." 

He said his rent had risen over 30%, with apartments in his neighborhood continually being rented out for short-term vacation use instead.

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Donaire told the Times the new rules are not anti-tourist; rather, they're a way to attract diverse tourist groups. 

They're interested in attracting visitors who are there for business or cultural attractions, he said.

"It’s important to us that any resident can buy a loaf of bread, a book or a screw in their neighborhood," he said. 

"We also believe that tourists will be more interested in a city where urban space isn’t entirely souvenirs, phone cases and kebabs."

Andrea Margolis and Ashley J. DiMella, both of Fox News Digital, contributed reporting.